Global Commodity Prices, Monetary Transmission, and Exchange Rate Pass-Through in the Pacific Islands

17 Pages Posted: 1 Nov 2012

See all articles by Shanaka Peiris

Shanaka Peiris

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - African Department

Ding Ding

International Monetary Fund

Date Written: July 2012

Abstract

Pacific Islands countries are vulnerable to commodity price shocks, and this poses challenges to monetary policy. The high degree of exchange rate pass-through to headline inflation and the weak monetary transmission mechanism in PICs suggest a greater efficacy of exchange rate changes in affecting inflation rather than monetary policy. To assess the tradeoff between the use of the exchange rate and monetary policy in macroeconomic stabilization, we employ a model-based approach to examine the optimal policy in response to the historical distribution of exogenous shocks in a Pacific Island (Tonga). The empirical evidence and model simulations tilt in the favor of exchange rate policy given the close relationship between exchange rate changes and headline inflation and the low interest rate sensitivity of aggregate demand.

Keywords: Commodity Prices, Exchange Rate Pass-through, And Monetary Policy, Economic Models, Exchange Rates, External Shocks, Monetary Transmission Mechanism, Pacific Island Countries

JEL Classification: E31, E52

Suggested Citation

Peiris, Shanaka and Ding, Ding, Global Commodity Prices, Monetary Transmission, and Exchange Rate Pass-Through in the Pacific Islands (July 2012). IMF Working Paper No. 12/176, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2169721

Shanaka Peiris (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - African Department ( email )

1700 19th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Ding Ding

International Monetary Fund ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

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