The Coming US Interest Rate Tightening Cycle: Smooth Sailing or Stormy Waters?

71 Pages Posted: 12 Oct 2015 Last revised: 13 Oct 2015

See all articles by Carlos Arteta

Carlos Arteta

World Bank, Development Prospects Group

M. Ayhan Kose

World Bank; Brookings Institution; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Australian National University (ANU)

Franziska Ohnsorge

World Bank; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy

Marc Stocker

World Bank

Date Written: October 1, 2015

Abstract

The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) is expected to start raising policy interest rates in the near term and thus commence a tightening cycle for the first time in nearly a decade. The taper tantrum episode of May-June 2013 is a reminder that even a long anticipated change in Fed policies can trigger substantial financial market volatility in Emerging and Frontier Market Economies (EFEs). This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential implications of the Fed tightening cycle for EFEs. We report three major findings: First, since the tightening cycle will take place in the context of a robust U.S. economy, it could be associated with positive real spillovers to EFEs. Second, while the tightening cycle is expected to proceed smoothly, there are risks of a disorderly adjustment of market expectations. The sudden realization of these risks could lead to a significant decline in EFE capital flows. For example, a 100 basis point jump in U.S. long-term yields could temporarily reduce aggregate capital flows to EFEs by up to 2.2 percentage point of their combined GDP. Third, in anticipation of the risks surrounding the tightening cycle, EFEs should prioritize monetary and fiscal policies that reduce vulnerabilities and implement structural policy measures that improve growth prospects.

Keywords: Federal Reserve, liftoff, tightening, interest rates, monetary policy, emerging markets, frontier markets, capital flows, sudden stops, crises

JEL Classification: E52, E58, F30, F65, G15

Suggested Citation

Arteta, Carlos and Kose, M. Ayhan and Ohnsorge, Franziska and Stocker, Marc, The Coming US Interest Rate Tightening Cycle: Smooth Sailing or Stormy Waters? (October 1, 2015). CAMA Working Paper No. 37/2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2672683 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2672683

Carlos Arteta

World Bank, Development Prospects Group ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

M. Ayhan Kose (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Brookings Institution ( email )

1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

Australian National University (ANU) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

Franziska Ohnsorge

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy ( email )

ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
J.G. Crawford Building, #132, Lennox Crossing
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

Marc Stocker

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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