Global Production and Currency Devaluation*

Laixun Zhao and Yuqing Xing

Review of International Economics, 2006, vol. 14, issue 2, 202-211

Abstract: We model the production allocation choices of a multinational enterprise (MNE) in a three‐country framework—one northern country and two southern ones. Products made in the South are of lower quality than those made in the North. Substitutability between goods differs due to variations in product quality. We investigate how exchange rates affect production, employment, and welfare, and find that currency devaluation from different countries brings contrasting results. In particular, an appreciation in the southern country (X) producing the lowest‐quality good with the least cost may reduce production (employment) in the North, while an appreciation in the other southern currency (Y) always does the opposite. A northern depreciation against both southern currencies may increase production in country X, but always reduces that in country Y. These arise because the MNE shifts production globally to minimize costs. Northern welfare always falls following currency appreciation in southern countries.

Date: 2006
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