International Reserves and Swap Lines: Substitutes or Complements?

32 Pages Posted: 15 Mar 2010 Last revised: 7 Sep 2024

See all articles by Joshua Aizenman

Joshua Aizenman

University of Southern California - Department of Economics

Yothin Jinjarak

Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka - School of Economics & Finance

Donghyun Park

Nanyang Technological University (NTU); Asian Development Bank

Date Written: March 2010

Abstract

Developing Asia experienced a sharp surge in foreign currency reserves prior to the 2008-9 crisis. The global crisis has been associated with an unprecedented rise of swap agreements between central banks of larger economies and their counterparts in smaller economies. We explore whether such swap lines can reduce the need for reserve accumulation. The evidence suggests that there is only a limited scope for swaps to substitute for reserves. The selectivity of the swap lines indicates that only countries with significant trade and financial linkages can expect access to such ad hoc arrangements, on a case by case basis. Moral hazard concerns suggest that the applicability of these arrangements will remain limited. However, deepening swap agreements and regional reserve pooling arrangements may weaken the precautionary motive for reserve accumulation.

Suggested Citation

Aizenman, Joshua and Jinjarak, Yothin and Park, Donghyun, International Reserves and Swap Lines: Substitutes or Complements? (March 2010). NBER Working Paper No. w15804, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1569223

Joshua Aizenman (Contact Author)

University of Southern California - Department of Economics ( email )

3620 South Vermont Ave. Kaprielian (KAP) Hall 300
Los Angeles, CA 90089
United States

Yothin Jinjarak

Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka - School of Economics & Finance ( email )

P.O. Box 600
Wellington 6001
New Zealand

Donghyun Park

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) ( email )

S3 B2-A28 Nanyang Avenue
Singapore, 639798
Singapore

Asian Development Bank

6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550
Metro Manila
Philippines

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