Why Do Consumer Prices React less than Import Prices to Exchange Rates?

Philippe Bacchetta and Eric van Wincoop

No 02.05, Working Papers from Swiss National Bank, Study Center Gerzensee

Abstract: It is well known that the extent of pass-through of exchange rate changes to consumer prices is much lower than to import prices. One explanation is local distribution costs. Here we consider an alternative, complementary, explanation based on the optimal pricing strategies of firms. We consider a model where foreign exporting firms sell intermediate goods to domestic firms. Domestic firms assemble the imported intermediate goods and sell final goods to consumers. When domestic firms face significant competition from other domestic final goods producing sectors (e.g., the non-traded goods sector) we show that they prefer to price in domestic currency, while exporting firms tend to price in the exporter's currency. In that case the pass-through to import prices is complete, while the pass-through to consumer prices is zero.

Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2002-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ifn and nep-rmg
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Why Do Consumer Prices React Less Than Import Prices to Exchange Rates? (2003)
Working Paper: Why do Consumer Prices React Less than Import Prices to Exchange Rates? (2003)
Working Paper: Why Do Consumer Prices React less than Import Prices to Exchange Rates ? (2002)
Working Paper: Why Do Consumer Prices React less than Import Prices to Exchange Rates? (2002)
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