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Workers' Remittances and the Equilibrium Real Exchange Rate: Theory and Evidence

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Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of workers' remittances on equilibrium real exchange rates (ERER) in recipient economies. Using a small open economy model, it shows that standard "Dutch Disease" results of appreciation are substantially weakened or even overturned depending on: degree of openness, factor mobility between domestic sectors, and countercyclicality of remittances; the share of consumption in tradables; and the sensitivity of a country's risk premium to remittance flows. Panel integration techniques on a large set of countries provide support for these analytical results, and show that ERER appreciation in response to sustained remittance flows tends to be quantitatively small.

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  • Adolfo Barajas & Ralph Chami & Dalia Hakura & Peter Montiel, 2010. "Workers' Remittances and the Equilibrium Real Exchange Rate: Theory and Evidence," Department of Economics Working Papers 2010-12, Department of Economics, Williams College.
    • Handle: RePEc:wil:wileco:2010-12
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Remittances; Real Exchange Rate; Dutch Disease;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange

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