Should African Monetary Unions Be Expanded? An Empirical Investigation of the Scope for Monetary Integration in Sub-Saharan Africa

By Xavier Debrun, Catherine A Pattillo, Paul R Masson

July 1, 2010

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Format: Chicago

Xavier Debrun, Catherine A Pattillo, and Paul R Masson. Should African Monetary Unions Be Expanded? An Empirical Investigation of the Scope for Monetary Integration in Sub-Saharan Africa, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2010) accessed September 19, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This paper develops a full-fledged cost-benefit analysis of monetary integration, and applies it to the currency unions actively pursued in Africa. The benefits of monetary union come from a more credible monetary policy, while the costs derive from real shock asymmetries and fiscal disparities. The model is calibrated using African data. Simulations indicate that the proposed EAC, ECOWAS, and SADC monetary unions bring about net benefits to some potential members, but modest net gains and sometimes net losses for others. Strengthening domestic macroeconomic frameworks is shown to provide some of the same improvements as monetary integration, reducing the latter’s relative attractiveness.

Subject: Banking, Currencies, Inflation, Monetary unions, Terms of trade

Keywords: Central bank, CFA franc, Monetary policy, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

68
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2010/157
Stock No:

WPIEA2010157
ISBN:

9781455201402
ISSN:

1018-5941

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