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Persistent Real Exchange Rates

Author

Listed:
  • Alok Johri

    (Economics McMaster University)

  • Amartya Lahiri

Abstract

This paper revisits three features of the data that are widely known: (a) there exists a high correlation between bilateral nominal and real exchange rates; (b) real exchange rate movements are highly persistent; and (c) real exchange rates are highly volatile. The paper attempts a joint, albeit partial, rationalization of these facts in an environment where prices are preset for only one quarter and there are no staggered contracts. The key innovation is that we augment a standard two-country open economy model with learning-by-doing in production at the firm level. This induces monopolistically competitive firms to endogeneize the productivity effect of their price setting behavior. Specifically, firms endogenously choose not to adjust prices by the full proportion of a positive monetary shock in order to take advantage of the productivity benefits of higher production. We show that the calibrated model can quantitatively reproduce significant fractions of the aforementioned facts.

Suggested Citation

  • Alok Johri & Amartya Lahiri, 2006. "Persistent Real Exchange Rates," 2006 Meeting Papers 281, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed006:281
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Real exchange rate movements; endogenous price stickiness; learning-by-doing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business

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