The Usual Suspects?: Productivity and Demand Shocks and Asia-Pacific Real Exchange Rates
UCSC Economics Dept. WP #371
Posted: 10 Apr 1997
There are 3 versions of this paper
The Usual Suspects? Productivity and Demand Shocks and Asia-Pacific Real Exchange Rates
The Usual Suspects?: Productivity and Demand Shocks and Asia-Pacific Real Exchange Rates
The Usual Suspects?: Productivity and Demand Shocks and Asia-Pacific Real Exchange Rates
Date Written: March 1997
Abstract
In this paper the evidence for a productivity-based explanation for real exchange rate behavior of East Asian currencies is examined. Using sectoral output and employment data, relative prices and relative productivities are calculated for China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Time series regressions of the real exchange rate on relative prices indicate a role for relative prices for Indonesia, Japan and Korea. When examining real exchange rates and relative productivity ratios, one finds a relationship for Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. However, only when augmenting the regressions with real oil prices are significant relationships obtained for Indonesia and Korea. Panel regression results are slightly more supportive of a relative price view of real exchange rates. However, the panel regressions incorporating productivity variables, as well as other demand side factors, are less encouraging, except for a small subset of countries (Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines). Surprisingly, government spending does not appear to be a determinant of real exchange rates in the region.
JEL Classification: F31, F41
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation