Exchange Rate Uncertainty and Optimal Participation in International Trade

Instead of just focusing on the effect of exchange rate levels (undervalued or overvalued exchange rates) on trade, this paper provides an analysis of the effects of exchange rate volatility levels on international trade. Intuitively, an increase in exchange rate volatility leads to uncertainty for agents participating in international trade, and such uncertainty might have a negative impact on international trade flows and participation, thereby reducing the advantages of world-wide specialization. This is especially crucial for countries where exchange rate derivatives markets are not yet well developed and the costs of hedging exchange rate risk are very high. The model here considers optimal decisions about participation in international trade under uncertainty about the exchange rate. The main conclusion is that a high level of exchange rate volatility can deter entrepreneurs from becoming exporters, even though exporting can be highly profitable. For those already participating in international trade, it is opposite: they may, optimally, choose not to leave the market even though staying in this market is highly unprofitable in the short run.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mundaca, Gabriela
Language:English
Published: 2011-03-01
Subjects:BILATERAL TRADE, CURRENCY UNIONS, DERIVATIVES, DERIVATIVES MARKETS, DOMESTIC CURRENCY, DOMESTIC MARKET, ECONOMIC GROWTH, EQUILIBRIUM, EQUILIBRIUM LEVEL, EXCHANGE RATE, EXCHANGE RATE BAND, EXCHANGE RATE INSTABILITY, EXCHANGE RATE LEVEL, EXCHANGE RATE LEVELS, EXCHANGE RATE REGIMES, EXCHANGE RATE RISK, EXCHANGE RATE UNCERTAINTY, EXCHANGE RATE VARIABILITY, EXCHANGE RATE VOLATILITY, EXCHANGE RATES, EXCHANGE RISK, EXPORT MARKET, EXPORT SECTOR, EXPORTER, EXPORTERS, FEDERAL RESERVE, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK, FIXED COST, FLEXIBLE EXCHANGE RATES, FOREIGN MARKET, FOREIGN MARKETS, IMPORT, IMPORTING COUNTRY, INCOME, INDEPENDENT MONETARY POLICY, INTERNATIONAL BANK, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEM, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, INVESTMENT DECISION, MARKET DEVELOPMENT, MONETARY POLICY, NOMINAL EXCHANGE RATE, OPTION VALUE, POLICY RESEARCH, POLITICAL ECONOMY, RANDOM WALK, REGIME OF TARGET ZONES, RELATIVE PRICES, RETURN, RETURNS, RISK AVERSION, RISK PREMIUM, TRADE FLOWS, TRADE IMPACT, TRADING, VARIABLE COSTS, VOLATILITY,
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110316112823
https://hdl.handle.net/10986/3359
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