Economic Policy Uncertainty and Dollar-Pound Exchange Rate Return Volatility

37 Pages Posted: 14 Nov 2018

Date Written: October 22, 2018

Abstract

The extent to which economic policy uncertainty (EPU) amplifies exchange rate volatility has been an important research question for at least a decade. Previous research has investigated this relationship using monthly data, concluding that EPU imparts an effect on exchange rate volatility either contemporaneously, or with a one month lag. The use of monthly frequency, however, may not provide an accurate causal interpretation, and may even compromise the accuracy of the estimates if the natural cycles of EPU are shorter than a month. To address this econometric concern I construct uncertainty measures at a daily frequency, and estimate a GARCH model using daily USD/British pound returns. The evidence indicates that EPU contributes to exchange rate volatility much more quickly than monthly data can detect. I also find that non-policy market uncertainty increases volatility more than EPU does.

Keywords: Volatility, exchange rate, epu, economic policy uncertainty, garch, vix, daily

JEL Classification: E6, F31, G15, H11

Suggested Citation

Bartsch, Zachary, Economic Policy Uncertainty and Dollar-Pound Exchange Rate Return Volatility (October 22, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3067782 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3067782

Zachary Bartsch (Contact Author)

Ave Maria University ( email )

5050 Ave Maria Boulevard
Ave Maria, FL 34142
United States
239-304-7929 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
146
Abstract Views
714
Rank
360,704
PlumX Metrics