March 2023

In Search of Dominant Drivers of the Real Exchange Rate

Wataru Miyamoto, Thuy Lan Nguyen, Hyunseung Oh

Abstract:

We uncover the major drivers of macro aggregates and the real exchange rate at business cycle frequencies in Group of Seven countries. The estimated main drivers of key macro variables resemble each other and account for a modest fraction of the real exchange rate variances. Dominant drivers of the real exchange rate are orthogonal to main drivers of business cycles, generate a significant deviation of the uncovered interest parity condition, and lead to small movements in net exports. We use these facts to evaluate international business cycle models accounting for the dynamics of both macro aggregates and the real exchange rate.

Keywords: international business cycles, real exchange rate, uncovered interest parity

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17016/IFDP.2023.1373

PDF: Full Paper

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Last Update: March 31, 2023