This paper examines two potential benefits that emerging economies may derive from dollarization. First, dollarization may eliminate distortions induced by the lack of credibility of monetary policy. Second, dollarization may weaken financial frictions that result in endogenous credit constraints. The analysis is based on numerical simulations of a two-sector dynamic, stochastic general equilibrium model calibrated to Mexican data. The results indicate that policy uncertainty and credit constraints are very costly distortions. The mean welfare gains of eliminating policy uncertainty range between 6.4 and 9 percent of the trend level of consumption per capita. The mean welfare gain of weakening credit frictions is about 4.6 percent.
Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Economics - Foreign Trade Theory, Trade Policy, grade: 1,3, University of Leipzig (Institute for Economic Policy), course: Financial Development and Innovation in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses the causes and problems associated with dollarization. Based on the results, it addresses the questions of how high dollarization rates can be evaluated and, in particular, whether it is advisable to opt for full dollarization (FD) or to what extent policymakers should rather aim for de-dollarization. As an introduction to the discussion, Chapter 2 will give a short illustration of the theoretical concepts of dollarization. Chapter 3 will then explain the causes of dollarization. The subsequent description of the advantages of FD in Chapter 4, which can also be cited as a reason for high rates of dollarization,3 leads directly to the problems associated with dollarization in Chapter 5. These problems arise – unless otherwise stated – both from high dollarization rates and from FD. The research up to Chapter 5 concentrates on a more theoretical level. The discussion on how to evaluate the causes and problems in Chapter 6 tries to link theoretical concepts with more general empirical analyses. Chapter 7 provides a brief conclusion of the most important findings and concludes with recommendations for future research. “Dollarization has evolved as one of the noteworthy features of globalization during the last two decades.” Although Mr. Yilmaz, the then Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, said this sentence at a conference on dollarization in December 2006, it remains more relevant than ever. Due to the increasing integration of the international financial system, the lifting of restrictions on capital mobility and the growing volume of trade, the debate on dollarization met with a growing interest in the 1990s. Nonetheless, today's economic journals are still filled with new publications on dollarization.
This book takes a global approach, with an emphasis on North and Latin America respectfully, by discussing one of today's most controversial topics in business; Dollarization. With the collapse of the former Soviet Union, and the formation of the Euro in Europe, many countries and debating whether or not a common currency is in their best interest. This intriguing volume brings together the leading participants in the current dollarization debates. Many advocate the notion of a common currency, while others feel that in doing so will create financial costs for all that take part, with the severity varying from country to country.
This book brings together an impressive and diverse group of authors to discuss its central theme: whether or not the dollarized international monetary system is sustainable in the context of the global economy it helped create. In addition to its uniquely well-rounded and comprehensive coverage of the issues, this lively and highly readable volume provides an accurate assessment of the lack of consensus in the current debate. A must read for anyone interested in currency crises and the increasing vulnerability of the dollar. Jane D Arista, Director of Progams, Financial Markets Center, US This book deals with the economic consequences of monetary integration, which has long been dominated by the Optimal Currency Area (OCA) paradigm. In this model, money is perceived as having developed from a private sector cost minimization process to facilitate transactions. Not surprisingly, the book argues, the main advantage of monetary integration in the OCA context is the reduction of transaction costs, yet the validity of OCA to analyze processes of monetary integration seems to be limited at best. The contributors in this volume try to go beyond the OCA model and understand the political economy of monetary integration by comparing the European Monetary Union with the dollarization (formal and informal) process in Latin America. The contributors, many of whom are leading lights, reflect the disagreements and the changing views on the proper monetary arrangements in a globalized world and suggest that monetary integration and dollarization are not the solution for the great majority of countries around the world. Monetary Integration and Dollarization brings together mainstream and heterodox views of monetary integration and uses the European and North American experiences as a guide for the discussion of dollarization in developing countries. It will appeal to scholars, researchers and policy makers in the fields of financial and international economics.
Macroeconomics would not be what it is today without Edmund Phelps. This book assembles the field's leading figures to highlight the continuing influence of his ideas from the past four decades. Addressing the most important current debates in macroeconomic theory, it focuses on the rates at which new technologies arise and information about markets is dispersed, information imperfections, and the heterogeneity of beliefs as determinants of an economy's performance. The contributions, which represent a breadth of contemporary theoretical approaches, cover topics including the real effects of monetary disturbances, difficulties in expectations formation, structural factors in unemployment, and sources of technical progress. Based on an October 2001 conference honoring Phelps, this incomparable volume provides the most comprehensive and authoritative account in years of the present state of macroeconomics while also pointing to its future. The fifteen chapters are by the editors and by Daron Acemoglu, Jess Benhabib, Guillermo A. Calvo, Oya Celasun, Michael D. Goldberg, Bruce Greenwald, James J. Heckman, Bart Hobijn, Peter Howitt, Hehui Jin, Charles I. Jones, Michael Kumhof, Mordecai Kurz, David Laibson, Lars Ljungqvist, N. Gregory Mankiw, Dale T. Mortensen, Maurizio Motolese, Stephen Nickell, Luca Nunziata, Wolfgang Ochel, Christopher A. Pissarides, Glenda Quintini, Ricardo Reis, Andrea Repetto, Thomas J. Sargent, Jeremy Tobacman, and Gianluca Violante. Commenting are Olivier J. Blanchard, Jean-Paul Fitoussi, Mark Gertler, Robert E. Hall, Robert E. Lucas, Jr., David H. Papell, Robert A. Pollak, Robert M. Solow, Nancy L. Stokey, and Lars E. O. Svensson. Also included are reflections by Phelps, a preface by Paul A. Samuelson, and the editors' introduction.
The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced dramatic changes in economic policy in the last decade, decisively moving toward more open market systems. The reforms have gone hand in hand with a remarkable increase in the quality of the policy debate in the area. This new journal from the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA) provides a forum for influential economists and policymakers from the region to share high-quality research directly applied to policy issues within and among those countries. Contents of the first issue: "Macroeconomic Volatility in Latin America: Facts and Policy Implications," Richard Caballero (MIT); "Regulation of Privatized Utilities: Issues and Lessons," Ronald Fischer and Pablo Serra (University of Chile); "Determinants of Crime and Violence in Latin America," Norman Loayza (Central Bank of Chile) and Daniel Lederman (World Bank); "Crisis and the Poor: Socially Responsible Macroeconomics," Nora Lustig (World Bank); "Regulation and Deregulation: Lessons from Latin American Labor Markets," Carmen Pagis-Serra (IDB) and James Heckman (Chicago); "Why is There So Much Economic Insecurity in Latin America?," Dani Rodrik (Harvard).
Over the past two decades, many low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs) have improved control over fiscal policy, liberalized and deepened financial markets, and stabilized inflation at moderate levels. Monetary policy frameworks that have helped achieve these ends are being challenged by continued financial development and increased exposure to global capital markets. Many policymakers aspire to move beyond the basics of stability to implement monetary policy frameworks that better anchor inflation and promote macroeconomic stability and growth. Many of these LLMICs are thus considering and implementing improvements to their monetary policy frameworks. The recent successes of some LLMICs and the experiences of emerging and advanced economies, both early in their policy modernization process and following the global financial crisis, are valuable in identifying desirable features of such frameworks. This paper draws on those lessons to provide guidance on key elements of effective monetary policy frameworks for LLMICs.
