Inflation Differentials in the EU: A Common (Factors) Approach with Implications for EU8 Euro Adoption Prospects

International Monetary Fund

No 2008/021, IMF Working Papers from International Monetary Fund

Abstract: This paper explores inflation determinants within the EU and implications for new members' euro adoption plans. Factor analysis partitions observed inflation in EU25 countries into common-origin and country-specific (idiosyncratic) components. Cross-country differences in common-origin inflation within the EU are found to depend on gaps in the initial price level, changes in the nominal effective exchange rate, the quality of institutions, and the economy's flexibility. Idiosyncratic inflation is generally small in magnitude. Nonetheless, the results show that country-specific shocks have systematically pushed down headline inflation, potentially influencing the assessment of compliance with the Maastricht inflation criterion.

Keywords: WP; country; price level; common-origin inflation; inflation differential (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 39
Date: 2008-01-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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