Global Transmission of Interest Rates: Monetary Independence and Currency Regime

Abstract

Using a large sample of developing and industrialized economies during 1970-1999, this paper explores whether the choice of exchange rate regime affects the sensitivity of local interest rates to international interest rates. In most cases, we cannot reject full transmission of international interest rates in the long run, even for countries with floating regimes. Only a couple of large industrial countries can choose their own interest rates in the long run. However, short-run effects differ across regimes. Dynamic estimates show that interest rates of countries with more flexible regimes adjust more slowly to changes in international rates, implying some capacity for monetary independence.

Keywords: interest rates, exchange rate regime, currency regime, monetary independence, monetary policy

JEL Classification: F31, F32, F33, F36