Are Capital Inflows Expansionary or Contractionary? Theory, Policy Implications, and Some Evidence
32 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2015 Last revised: 19 Feb 2018
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Are Capital Inflows Expansionary or Contractionary? Theory, Policy Implications, and Some Evidence
Are Capital Inflows Expansionary or Contractionary? Theory, Policy Implications, and Some Evidence
Are Capital Inflows Expansionary or Contractionary? Theory, Policy Implications, and Some Evidence
Are Capital Inflows Expansionary or Contractionary? Theory, Policy Implications, and Some Evidence
Date Written: November 1, 2015
Abstract
The workhorse open-economy macro model suggests that capital inflows are contractionary because they appreciate the currency and reduce net exports. Emerging-market policymakers however believe that inflows lead to credit booms and rising output, and the evidence appears to go their way. To reconcile theory and reality, we extend the set of assets included in the Mundell-Fleming model to include both bonds and non-bonds. At a given policy rate, inflows may decrease the rate on non-bonds, reducing the cost of financial intermediation, potentially offsetting the contractionary impact of appreciation. We explore the implications theoretically and empirically and find support for the key predictions in the data.
Keywords: capital inflows, capital controls, foreign exchange intervention
JEL Classification: F21, F23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation