ibe303 lecture 8

96
Lecture 8 August 30 th , 2010 http://www.slideshare.net/saark/ibe303-lecture-8

Upload: saark

Post on 17-May-2015

1.250 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: IBE303 Lecture 8

Lecture 8August 30th, 2010

http://www.slideshare.net/saark/ibe303-lecture-8

Page 2: IBE303 Lecture 8

The Eurodollar Market

Page 3: IBE303 Lecture 8

The Eurodollar Market•Eurodollar deposits arise when a U.S.

exporter wishes to sell goods to a foreigner, is paid in dollars, and wishes to leave the dollars in an account in a foreign bank.

•The Eurodollar market began to be important in the 1950s, as the USSR chose to put dollar-denominated deposits in British (rather than American) banks.

•Other factors, such as the oil shocks in the 1970s, increased Eurodollar holdings.

Page 4: IBE303 Lecture 8

The Significance of Eurodollar Markets•The rise of Eurodollar markets has

significantly increased the international mobility of financial capital.

•This means that interest rates have been increasingly linked across countries, and have moved toward each other.

•One drawback is that financial problems quickly spread worldwide, such as happened in 2008.

Page 5: IBE303 Lecture 8

The International Bond Market (Debt Securities)•Government and corporations can borrow

money by issuing bonds.•Bonds have a face value – this is the

amount that will be paid to the lender when the bond matures.

•Foreign bond markets and eurobond markets together comprise the international bond market.

•The stock of this sort of debt was $23.9 trillion as of 2008.

Page 6: IBE303 Lecture 8

Significance of the International Bond Market•As with the Eurodollar markets, the

increasing importance of international bond markets has increased the international mobility of financial capital, and countries’ interest rates have moved toward each other.

•This increased interdependence also helps spread financial problems.

Page 7: IBE303 Lecture 8

International Stock Markets•Ownership in companies (common stock)

is another asset that is traded internationally.

•Exact figures on the volume of international stock transactions are difficult to obtain, but most believe these have increased.

•This may create a tendency for movements of stock prices across countries to become more similar to each other.

Page 8: IBE303 Lecture 8

Significance of the Rise of International Stock Markets•The increasing importance of

international stock markets has facilitated the flow of financial capital to its most productive use.

•This increased interdependence can also allow financial problems to spread quickly, as was demonstrated in 2008.

Page 9: IBE303 Lecture 8

Basic International Financial Linkages: Review•Investors will be indifferent between

domestic and foreign investment when

•(ihome – iforeign) ≈ p = xa – RP

▫Where p is the forward exchange rate premium.

Page 10: IBE303 Lecture 8

Basic International Financial Linkages: An Example•How does the Eurodollar market change

our understanding of financial linkages?

•Suppose (yearly figures)

Lending iNY 7% Lending iLondon 8%

Lending iEuro$ London 6.5% Lending iEurosterling NY 7.5%

Deposit iNY 5% Deposit iLondon 6%

Deposit iEuro$ London 5.5% Deposit iEurosterling NY 6.5%

Spot e$/£ 1.691 3-months forward e$/£ 1.687

Page 11: IBE303 Lecture 8

Basic International Financial Linkages

•Home = NY•Foreign = London•If covered interest arbitrage parity holds,

after dividing the annual interest rate difference by 4 to approximate a 3-month rate we get

•(ihome – iforeign) ≈ p

•(0.07 -0.08)/4 ≈ (1.687 – 1.691)/1.691

•-0.0025 ≈ -0.0025.

Page 12: IBE303 Lecture 8

Basic International Financial Linkages

•What happens if the Federal Reserve raises U.S. interest rates by ½ of a percentage point? ▫Now, the eurodollar deposit rate will rise to

6% and the eurodollar lending rate will rise to 7%.

•We’d also expect the forward rate to rise (the dollar depreciates) and the spot rate to fall (the dollar appreciates)

Page 13: IBE303 Lecture 8

International Financial and Exchange Rate Adjustments

i

$

S$

D€

i

S'$

i' NY money market

Page 14: IBE303 Lecture 8

International Financial and Exchange Rate Adjustments•The higher interest rate in New York

increases demand for eurodollars.•This will put upward pressure on the

eurodollar rate.

Page 15: IBE303 Lecture 8

International Financial and Exchange Rate Adjustments

i

$

S$

D$

i'

D‘$

i0

London money market (eurodollars)

Page 16: IBE303 Lecture 8

International Financial and Exchange Rate Adjustments•The higher U.S. interest rate leads to an

increased supply of pounds on the spot market▫This additional supply is hedged in the

forward market.

Page 17: IBE303 Lecture 8

e$/£

£

Spot market

S'£

e$/£

e'$/£

International Financial and Exchange Rate Adjustments

Page 18: IBE303 Lecture 8

e$/£

St€

e'$/£

D'£

Forward markete$/£

International Financial and Exchange Rate Adjustments

Page 19: IBE303 Lecture 8

International Financial and Exchange Rate Adjustments•Further adjustments might occur in the

U.K.’s money market and the eurosterling market that would lead to higher interest rates there, but the Bank of England may intervene to prevent this.

Page 20: IBE303 Lecture 8

Hedging Eurodollar Interest Rate Risk

•New instruments, called derivatives, have emerged to hedge interest rate risk.

•Derivatives are financial contracts whose value is derived from an underlying asset such as stocks, bonds, commodities, etc.

Page 21: IBE303 Lecture 8

Commonly Used Derivatives•Maturity mismatching•Future rate agreements•Eurodollar interest rate swaps•Eurodollar cross-currency interest rate

swaps•Eurodollar interest rate futures•Eurodollar interest rate options•Options on swaps•Equity financial derivatives

Page 22: IBE303 Lecture 8

The Current Global Derivatives Market

•Futures have been traded on metals and agricultural commodities for more than a century, so the idea of derivatives isn’t new.

•However, in the past 25 years there has been an explosion in the use of global derivatives.

•Annual growth rates have been in the range of 20%-30%.

Page 23: IBE303 Lecture 8

Values of Selected Global Derivatives, 1987-2008

(in billions of dollars) 1987 2008

A. Exchange-traded instruments

$730 $59,797

Interest rate futures 488 19,271

Interest rate options 123 35,161

Currency futures 15 102

Currency options 60 126

Stock mkt index futures

18 729

Stock mkt index options

28 4,409

B. Over-the-counter instruments

866 683,725

Interest rate swaps 683 356,772

Currency swaps 183 16,307

Interest rate swaps 0 62,162

Page 24: IBE303 Lecture 8

The Current Global Derivatives Market

•Why have derivatives become so important?

•Participants in the international financial markets have discovered that derivatives can▫increase their returns and/or▫lower their risk.

•Derivatives allow for an unbundling of exposure to foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk, and price risk.

Page 25: IBE303 Lecture 8

The Current Global Derivatives Market

•However, as the global financial crisis of 2007-08 has shown, derivatives cannot eliminate risk.

Page 26: IBE303 Lecture 8

the Monetary And Portfolio Balance Approaches to External Balance

Page 27: IBE303 Lecture 8

the Monetary Approach to the Balance of Payments

▫BOP is mainly a monetary phenomenon. This approach requires us to consider a

country’s supply of and demand for money.

Page 28: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the BOP: the Supply of Money

▫The money supply (Ms) can be seen either in terms of central bank liabilities:

▫Ms = a(BR + C), where ▫BR = reserves of commercial banks▫C = currency held by nonbank public▫a = the money multiplier▫Or central bank assets▫Ms = a(DR + IR), where▫DR = domestic reserves▫IR = international reserves

Page 29: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the BOP: the Supply of Money

▫The money multiplier refers to the notion of multiple deposit creation.

▫If the reserve requirement is 10%, a new deposit of $1,000 creates $900 of excess reserves, which can be lent out.

▫The loan recipient deposits the $900 in her bank; this creates $810 of excess reserves which can be lent, etc.

▫The money multiplier is 1/r or 10.

Page 30: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the BOP: the Supply of Money

▫Anything that increases the assets of the central bank (or equivalently, its liabilities) allows the money supply to expand via the multiplier process.

▫Suppose the central bank buys government securities or foreign exchange – in either case the money supply is expanded.

Page 31: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to BOP: the Demand for Money

▫Money demand (L) is a function of several variables:

▫L = f[Y, P, i, W, E(p), O] where

Y = level of real income in economy P = price level i = interest rate W = level of real wealth E(p) = expected % Δ in price level O = other variables that may affect L

Page 32: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to BOP: the Demand for Money

▫L is a positive function of Y, due to the transactions demand for money.

▫L is a positive function of P, since more cash is needed to make purchases when P rises.

▫L is a negative function of I; i is the opportunity cost of holding money.

▫L is a positive function of W; as a person’s wealth rises she will want to hold more money.

▫L is a negative function of E(p); if a person expects inflation he will hold less money.

Page 33: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to BOP: the Demand for Money

▫Frequently a general expression for money demand is used:

▫L = kPY

Where P and Y are as discussed k is a constant embodying all other influences

on money demand.

Page 34: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to BOP: Monetary Equilibrium

▫Money market equilibrium occurs when

Ms = L

or

a(DR+IR) = a(BR+C) = f[Y,P,I,W,E(p),O]

or

Ms = kPY.

Page 35: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to BOP: Monetary Equilibrium

▫How can we understand balance of payments adjustments using money supply and demand?

▫Let us assume a fixed exchange rate system.

▫What happens when the central bank increases Ms, perhaps by purchasing government securities (increasing DR)?

▫BR and/or C will increase, and there will now be an excess supply of money.

Page 36: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to BOP: Monetary Equilibrium

▫Current account excess cash balances imply individuals spend

more, bidding up P. Y and W may rise. Higher P and Y will lead to lower exports (X)

and higher imports (M). Therefore, the excess supply of money leads to

a current account deficit.▫Private capital account

excess cash causes individual to bid up price of financial assets; this drives down i.

In the end, this causes a deficit in the private capital account.

Page 37: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to BOP: Monetary Equilibrium

▫Together, these effects indicate that Money supply increase leads to a balance of

payments deficit.▫To summarize:

Increase in Ms causes individuals to shift to non-money assets, including foreign goods and assets.

This creates a BOP deficit.

Page 38: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the Exchange Rate

▫When exchange rates are fixed, An increase in Ms leads to a BOP deficit.

▫If the exchange rate is not fixed, BOP deficits and surpluses will be eliminated

by exchange rate adjustments.

Page 39: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the Exchange Rate

▫If Ms is increased Individuals wish to purchase non-money

assets, including foreign goods and assets. This creates an “incipient” BOP deficit. The home country’s currency will depreciate

to eliminate the BOP deficit.▫If Ms is decreased

Individuals wish to sell non-money assets, including foreign goods and assets.

This creates an “incipient” BOP surplus. The home country’s currency will appreciate

to eliminate the BOP surplus.

Page 40: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the ER: A Simple Model•If we assume that absolute purchasing

power parity holds, then e = PA/PB

•Similarly, for Country B, MsB = kBPBYB

•It must be true that

BBB

AAA

sB

sA

YPk

YPk

M

M

Page 41: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the ER: A Simple Model•For Country A, monetary equilibrium

means that MsA = kAPAYA

•This means that

•Rearranging yields

eYk

Yk

M

M

BB

AA

sB

sA

sBAA

sABB

MYk

MYke

Page 42: IBE303 Lecture 8

Monetary Approach to the ER: A Simple Model

▫This expression demonstrates that an increase in Ms by Country A will lead to a depreciation of the currency.

▫Inflationary monetary policy only causes currency depreciation.

sBAA

sABB

MYk

MYke

Page 43: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Balance Approach to the BOP and the Exchange Rate

▫The approach extends the Monetary Approach to include other financial assets besides money.

▫In a two country model there will continue to be demand for money by each country’s citizens.

▫Now there will also be demand for home-country bonds (Bd) and for foreign bonds (Bf).

▫Bd yields interest return of id

▫Bf yields a return of if

Page 44: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Balance Approach to the BOP and the Exchange Rate

▫The relationship between interest rates is as follows:

id = if + xa – RP, where

▫RP is the risk premium associated with the imperfect international mobility of capital

▫xa is the expected percentage appreciation of the foreign currency, or [E(e)/e] – 1

Page 45: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Balance Approach to the BOP and the Exchange Rate

▫Demand by home country individual for home money

▫L = f(id, if, xa, Yd, Pd, Wd), where

▫id = return on home-country bonds

▫if = return on foreign-country bonds▫xa = expected appreciation of foreign

currency▫Yd = home country real income

▫Pd = home country price level

▫Wd = home country real wealth

Page 46: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Balance Approach to the BOP and the Exchange Rate

▫Home money demand (L) will be inversely related to id. Inversely related to if. Inversely related to xa. Positively related to Yd. Positively related to Pd. Positively related to Wd.

Page 47: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Balance Approach to the BOP and the Exchange Rate

▫Demand by home country individual for home bonds

▫Bd = h(id, if, xa, Yd, Pd, Wd), where▫Home bond demand will be

Positively related to id

Inversely related to if Inversely related to xa Inversely related to Yd

Inversely related to Pd Positively related to Wd

Page 48: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Balance Approach to the BOP and the Exchange Rate

▫Demand by home country individual for foreign bonds (multiplied by e so that it’s in terms of domestic currency

▫eBf = j(id, if, xa, Yd, Pd, Wd), where▫Foreign bond demand will be

Inversely related to id

Positively related to if Positively related to xa Inversely related to Yd

Inversely related to Pd Positively related to Wd

Page 49: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Adjustments: Example 1

▫Home country central bank sells government securities (i.e., decreases Ms and increase home bond supply). id should rise, resulting in

decrease in home-country money demand, decrease in foreign bond demand, and increase in home bond demand.

Foreign investors switch towards holding home-country currency.

Page 50: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Adjustments: Example 1

▫Home country central bank sells government securities (i.e., decreases Ms and increase home bond supply). if should rise. The foreign currency depreciates (e falls),

assuming flexible exchange rates. xa rises.

▫There are therefore second-round effects, continuing until a new portfolio balance is attained.

Page 51: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Adjustments: Example 2

▫Home country individual believe home inflation is likely in the future. Assume flexible exchange rates, xa should rise (that is, home citizens will

expect a depreciation of the home currency), resulting in decrease in home-country money demand, decrease in home bond demand, and increase in foreign bond demand.

The home country currency depreciates.▫So: the expectation of a depreciation leads

to a depreciation.

Page 52: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Adjustments: Example 3

▫An increase in home country real income, leading to a

increase in home-country money demand. decrease in home bond demand. decrease in foreign bond demand.

The home country currency appreciates under a flexible exchange rate system; a BOP surplus occurs under a fixed exchange rate regime.

Page 53: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Adjustments: Example 4

▫An increase in home country bond supply causes

increase in id, which causes a capital inflow and an appreciation of the home country currency.

increase in wealth, which (among other things) causes an increased demand for foreign bonds and an depreciation of the home currency.

On net, it is likely that the home currency appreciates.

Page 54: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Adjustments: Example 5

▫An increase in home country wealth because of home-country current account surplus

increase in money demand, leading to an increase in id.

increase in demand for foreign bonds and for domestic bonds, both of which lead to a decrease in id.

On net, it is not clear what will happen to the exchange rate.

Page 55: IBE303 Lecture 8

Portfolio Adjustments: Example 6

▫An increase in supply of foreign bonds because of foreign government budget deficit

causes an increase in the risk premium, and an appreciation of the home country currency.

Page 56: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting

Page 57: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting▫Exchange rate overshooting occurs when,

in moving from one equilibrium to another, the exchange rate goes beyond the new equilibrium before eventually returning to it.

▫Assume: Country is small. Perfect capital mobility exists. Essentially, uncovered interest parity applies.

Page 58: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting▫The relationship between the price level (P)

and the exchange rate (e) should be negative because a higher price increases demand for money,

so id will rise.

▫The result is an appreciation.

Page 59: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting: the Asset Market

P

e

A

A

B

If from point B prices were to rise to P2, demand for money would rise, and the home currency would appreciate (i.e., e falls).F

P2

P1

e2 e1

Page 60: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting▫According to purchasing power parity, in

the long run when a country’s currency depreciates its price level will increase proportionately.

▫That is, there is a long run positive relationship between e and P.

Page 61: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting: the Dornbusch Model

P

e

A

A

P1

e1

L

0

Page 62: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting▫An increase in the money supply shifts the

asset curve from AA to A'A'▫This causes a relatively rapid depreciation

of the home currency, from e1 to e2.▫Prices eventually will begin to rise due to

excess demand for goods caused by the currency depreciation.

▫Eventually, we reach a new equilibrium at E'

Page 63: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Rate Overshooting: the Dornbusch Model

P

e

A

A

P1

e1

L

0

A'

A'

E

E'

e2e3

Page 64: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustments and Balance-of-Payments Disequilibrium

Page 65: IBE303 Lecture 8

The Price Adjustment Process and the Current Account Under A Flexible Rate System

▫A depreciation of the home currency causes foreign goods to become more expensive, reducing consumption of imports relative to domestic alternatives.

▫A depreciation makes the home country’s exports seem cheaper, so the trading partner switches expenditure towards home products.

▫This process is expenditure switching.

Page 66: IBE303 Lecture 8

Demand for Foreign Goods and Services and the Foreign Exchange Market

▫Demand for foreign exchange is derived from demand for goods and services.

▫Demand for imports depends on price of foreign goods or services, tariffs or subsidies, prices of domestic substitutes and complements, domestic income, and tastes.

▫Demand for foreign currency by home country is also supply of foreign currency to the foreign country.

Page 67: IBE303 Lecture 8

Demand and Supply of Foreign Exchange

e$/£ e£/$

£ $

1.2 0.83

S$

D$D

£

Page 68: IBE303 Lecture 8

Demand and Supply of Foreign Exchange

▫With normally shaped supply and demand curves, the market for foreign exchange is stable.

▫If U.S. income rises, demand for imports rises so does demand for foreign exchange.

▫The rightward shift of the demand for foreign exchange creates a current account deficit and an increase in the price of pounds (a depreciation of the dollar).

Page 69: IBE303 Lecture 8

Demand and Supply of Foreign Exchange

e$/£ e£/$

£ $

eeq

S$

D$

D'£

e'eq

eeq

Page 70: IBE303 Lecture 8

Demand and Supply of Foreign Exchange

▫If U.S. prices increase relative to British prices: U.S. consumers demand more British

products increasing demand for pounds.

British consumers demand fewer U.S. products decreasing the supply of pounds.

▫The overall effect is an increase in the dollar price of pounds.

Page 71: IBE303 Lecture 8

Demand and Supply of Foreign Exchange

e$/£ E$/£

£

eeq

S

£

D £

D'£

e'eq

eeq

S'

£

D'

£

e'eq

£

Page 72: IBE303 Lecture 8

Market Stability and the Price Adjustment Mechanism

▫This price adjustment depends on the slope of the supply and demand curves for foreign exchange.

▫Supply curves can be backward-sloping. If supply curve is steeper than demand curve,

the market is still stable. If supply curve is flatter than demand curve,

the market is unstable.

Page 73: IBE303 Lecture 8

Demand and Supply of Foreign Exchangee$/£ e£/$

£ $

S$

D$

In this case, if e is too high, there is an excess supply and e will fall.

In this case, if e is too high, there is an excess demand and e will rise.

Page 74: IBE303 Lecture 8

Explaining the Backward-Sloping Supply Curve

▫As the dollar becomes more expensive, two effects happen: More pounds are required to buy each unit of

imports from the U.S. The number of units imported falls due to the

increase in price in terms of pounds.▫It’s easy to see these effects by considering

the price elasticity of demand

2

2

21

21

PPP

QQQ

arc

Page 75: IBE303 Lecture 8

Explaining the Backward-Sloping Supply Curve

▫Example:▫Suppose the depreciation of the dollar

causes the U.K. price of the imported good to increase from £16 to £22, and this causes quantity demanded to fall from 120 units to 100 units.

▫If foreign demand for home goods is inelastic, supply of foreign exchange is downward-sloping.

58.0

2/2216/6

2/100120/20

2//

2//

21

21

PPP

QQQarc

Page 76: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Market Stability: The Marshall-Lerner Condition

▫If home-country demand is elastic, a depreciation will improve the current account balance. The increased price of imports reduces total

expenditures on imports and the reduced price of exports to foreigners causes an increase in their expenditures.

▫If home-country demand is inelastic, a depreciation will have an ambiguous effect on the current account balance. The increased price of imports will increase total

expenditures on imports, possibly offsetting the foreign country’s increased expenditures on exports.

Page 77: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Market Stability: The Marshall-Lerner Condition

▫The Marshall-Lerner Condition: The foreign exchange market will be stable as long as

▫where X = expenditures on exports M = expenditures on imports ηDX = price elasticity for home exports ηDM = price elasticity for imports.

1 DMDXM

X 1 DmDxM

X 1 DMDXM

X

Page 78: IBE303 Lecture 8

Exchange Market Stability: The Marshall-Lerner Condition

▫Some empirical studies suggest these demand elasticities may be low.

▫However, the general consensus is that these elasticities are large enough that the foreign exchange market is stable.

1 DmDxM

X

Page 79: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Process: Short Run vs. Long Run

▫When the Marshall-Lerner condition holds, changes in the exchange rate bring about appropriate switches in expenditures between domestic and foreign goods.

▫A home currency depreciation leads to a substitution of domestic goods for imports.

▫A home currency depreciation causes foreigners to switch to home country exports.

1 DmDxM

X

Page 80: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Process: Short Run vs. Long Run

▫Short-run elasticities of supply and demand tend to be smaller in absolute value than long-run elasticities. Consumers don’t adjust immediately to

relative price changes; it’s not unusual for the quantity demanded of imports and the amount of foreign exchange needed to not respond to changes in the exchange rate.

The supply of exports may not adjust immediately in response to changes in exchange rates due to lags in recognition, decision-making, production, and delivery.

1 DmDxM

X

Page 81: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Process: The J-Curve

▫If the short-run elasticities are low, the market for foreign exchange may be unstable.

▫A depreciation may initially lead to a further depreciation, since demand for the foreign currency outstrips supply.

▫Therefore the current account deficit worsens.

▫Eventually, the current account deficit shrinks and a new equilibrium is attained.

Page 82: IBE303 Lecture 8

The J-CurveX-M

time

point of depreciation

(X-M) = f(e,time)

Page 83: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism in a Fixed Exchange Rate System

▫Rather than allowing the foreign exchange market to determine the value of foreign exchange, countries sometimes fix or “peg” the value of their currencies.

1 DmDxM

X

Page 84: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with the Gold Standard

▫From 1880 to 1914, countries pegged their currencies to gold.

▫This fixes countries’ exchange rates with each other.

▫For example, if the dollar is fixed at

$100 per ounce The pound is fixed at £50 per ounce The “mint par” exchange rate is $2/£.

▫Governments must be prepared to maintain the gold price by buying and selling gold at the set price.

1 DmDxM

X

Page 85: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with the Gold Standard

▫Since the exchange rate is fixed, some other mechanism must be in force to balance demand for and supply of foreign exchange.

▫These “rules of the game” are assumed to hold: no restraints on buying/selling gold within

countries; gold can move freely between countries,

money supply is allowed to change if a country’s gold holdings change, and

prices/wages are flexible.

1 DmDxM

X

Page 86: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with the Gold Standard

▫Suppose an increase in U.S. income causes an increased demand for pounds.

▫There will be upward pressure on the exchange rate to eliminate the excess demand for pounds.

▫Buyers/sellers know that governments stand ready to buy/sell pounds at mint par, using gold as medium of exchange.

▫Since it is costly to ship gold, the exchange rate can vary slightly from mint par.

1 DmDxM

X

Page 87: IBE303 Lecture 8

Foreign Exchange Market Under a Gold Standard

e$/£ e$/£

£ £

$2.00

D'£

$1.96$2.00

$2.04Mint par

Assuming transactions costs represent 2% of par value, the

exchange rate can vary between $1.96 and $2.04.

Page 88: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with the Gold Standard

▫Americans never need to pay more than $2.04/£, since an unlimited supply of pounds can be obtained at this price. This price is called the gold export point.

▫The British never need to receive fewer than $1.96/£, since at that point gold will begin to move to the U.S. to be exchanged for dollars. This price is called the gold import point.

Page 89: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with the Gold Standard

▫The exchange rate can vary in between these narrow bands.

▫Prices cannot adjust through exchange rate changes.

▫Instead, prices adjust through changes in the money supply.

Page 90: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with the Gold Standard

▫Assuming the quantity theory holds,

Ms = kPY.

▫If gold leaves the country, Ms falls and prices must fall in response.

▫Assuming demand for tradable goods is elastic, This should reduce spending on imports and

increase receipts from exports.

Page 91: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with the Gold Standard

▫The price adjustment mechanism under the gold standard is triggered by changes in the money supply related to flows of gold.

▫This adjustment depends on flexible wages and prices – any rigidities will hinder adjustment.

▫Other adjustment may occur due the effects of changes in the money supply on interest rates and income.

▫The gold standard works to keep inflation in check.

Page 92: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with a Pegged Rate System

Page 93: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with a Pegged Rate System

▫A country can also fix its exchange rate without reference to the value of gold.

▫The central bank must be ready to buy foreign currency when the domestic currency is strong, and sell foreign currency when the domestic currency is weak.

▫Central banks must hold a sufficient supply of foreign currencies.

Page 94: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with a Pegged Rate System

▫The adjustment effects of such a system are similar to a gold standard.

▫Upward pressure on the exchange rate caused by an increase in demand for foreign exchange will cause the central bank to sell foreign exchange.

▫This reduces the money supply, thereby triggering adjustments to interest rates, income, and prices.

Page 95: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with a Pegged Rate System

▫Similarly, downward pressure on the exchange rate caused by an increase in the supply of foreign exchange will cause the central bank to buy foreign exchange.

▫This increases the money supply, thereby triggering adjustments to interest rates, income, and prices.

Page 96: IBE303 Lecture 8

Price Adjustment Mechanism with a Pegged Rate System

▫For these adjustments to occur, the central bank must allow the actions taken in the foreign exchange markets to affect the domestic money supply.

▫Bottom line: when a country adopts a fixed exchange rate system, its central bank loses effective control over the money supply as a policy tool.