Dollarization in Transition Economies: Evidence and Policy Implications

34 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2006

See all articles by Ratna Sahay

Ratna Sahay

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Developing Country Studies Division; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Carlos Végh

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: September 1995

Abstract

After most restrictions on foreign currency holdings were relaxed in the early 1990s, foreign currency deposits in transition economies have been increasing rapidly. This paper takes a first look at the evidence on dollarization for 15 transition economies, and then discusses some key conceptual and policy implications. Depending on the institutional constraints, foreign currency deposits as a proportion of broad money reached a peak of between 30 and 60 percent in 1992-93. Unlike what has been observed in Latin America, however, dollarization has fallen substantially in the aftermath of successful stabilization plans in Estonia, Lithuania, Mongolia, and Poland. Since foreign currency deposits reflect mainly a portfolio choice, the fall in dollarization can be primarily attributed to higher real returns on domestic-currency assets, as a result of lower inflation and more market-determined interest rates.

JEL Classification: F41

Suggested Citation

Sahay, Ratna and Végh, Carlos, Dollarization in Transition Economies: Evidence and Policy Implications (September 1995). IMF Working Paper No. 95/96, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=883243

Ratna Sahay (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Developing Country Studies Division ( email )

700 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States
202-623-7181 (Phone)
202-623-7271 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Carlos Végh

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available