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Can an Inter-temporal Model Explain India's Current Account Balance?

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  • Khundrakpam, J. K.
  • Ranjan, Rajiv

Abstract

Employing an inter-temporal model on a constructed private consumption series, the paper finds that the current account balance in India during 1950-51 to 2005-06 is intertemporally solvent. This is primarily a reflection of the developments that have taken place during the post-reform period, when restrictions on capital flows have been significantly liberalised. We do find some evidence of asymmetry between capital flows, which is on expected lines as restrictions on capital outflows from India are more than those on inflows to India. The study finds that the optimal current account balance has been larger than the actual current account balance. This is intuitively appealing as there were severe foreign exchange restrictions in the pre-reform period which restricted the smoothing of private consumption up to the optimal level. With further liberalisation of capital flows, both inflows and outflows, it would be possible for agents to further smoothen their consumption to desired optimal level, allowing scope for higher current account deficit to attain potentially higher growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Khundrakpam, J. K. & Ranjan, Rajiv, 2008. "Can an Inter-temporal Model Explain India's Current Account Balance?," MPRA Paper 50928, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:50928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Suranjana Nabar-Bhaduri & Matías Vernengo, 2012. "Service-Led Growth and the Balance of Payments Constraint in India," Challenge, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(5), pages 79-93.
    2. Suranjana Nabar-Bhaduri & Matías Vernengo, 2012. "Service-led growth and the balance of payments constraint in India: An unsustainable strategy," Working Paper Series, Department of Economics, University of Utah 2012_06, University of Utah, Department of Economics.
    3. Tahir Mukhtar & Aliya H. Khan, 2011. "The Current Account Dynamics in Pakistan: An Intertemporal Optimisation Perspective," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 50(4), pages 401-421.
    4. Tahir Mukhtar & Aliya H. Khan, 2016. "The Current Account Deficit Sustainability: An Empirical Investigation for Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 55(4), pages 397-419.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Current account; Consumption-smoothing; Inter-temporal;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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