The anatomy of a peg: lessons from China's parallel currencies

Saleem Bahaj and Ricardo Reis

No 18749, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Two currencies circulate in parallel in China, the mainland CNY and the offshore CNH. This implements capital controls as long as their exchange rate is pegged. This paper characterises this peculiar system by isolating the conventional channels through which monetary and liquidity policies sustain it. Using a rare instance of exogenous transitory increases in the supply of money, we find causal evidence that they de- preciate the exchange rate and we pin down the interest elasticity of the demand for reserves. Using an instrument for changes in the demand for money, we quantita- tively decompose the success of the peg into the joint contribution of monetary and liquidity policies. Using a model of offshore exchange rates and money creation by banks, we show that a menu of policies can be used, and has been used, to smooth fluctuations of the exchange rate of the yuan with the US dollar.

Keywords: Chinese monetary policy; Money markets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E51 F31 F33 G15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-01
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