Revisiting the Interest Rate-Exchange Rate Nexus: A Markov Switching Approach

Shiu-Sheng Chen

International Finance from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: In this paper the interest rate-exchange rate nexus and the effectiveness of interest rate defence are investigated theoretically and empirically. We construct a simple theoretical model by incorporating Taylor rule in the model proposed by Jeanne and Rose (2002). Mixing the macroeconomic theory of exchange rate determination and the noise trading approach to asset price volatility, we present a model with multiple equilibria, which thereafter implies a possible switching between the regimes of high and low volatility of the exchange rates. The theoretical model motivates us to adopt a Markov-switching specification of the nominal exchange rate with time-varying transition probabilities. By investigating the data of Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Turkey, it is shown that raising nominal interest rates leads to a higher probability of switching to a crisis regime. Thus, the empirical results presented here support the views that high interest rate policy is unable to defend the exchange rate. Unlike other studies which consider linear models only, our findings are robust and consistent over different countries and crisis episodes (Asian 1997 crises, Mexico 1994 crisis, and Turkey 1994, 2001 crises). In addition, this paper provides some evidences supporting the view of ``fear of floating''.

Keywords: Exchange rates; Interest rates; Markov switching model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F30 F31 F41 G15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 50 pages
Date: 2003-03-06, Revised 2003-04-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba, nep-fin, nep-fmk, nep-ifn and nep-mac
Note: Type of Document - ; pages: 50 ; figures: included. Preliminary. Comments welcome.
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Journal Article: Revisiting the interest rate-exchange rate nexus: a Markov-switching approach (2006)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wpa:wuwpif:0303002

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