FEER for the CFA Franc

Author/Editor:

Charalambos G Tsangarides ; Yasser Abdih

Publication Date:

October 1, 2006

Electronic Access:

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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:

We apply the fundamentals equilibrium exchange rate (FEER) approach and the Johansen cointegration methodology to investigate the behavior of the real effective exchange rates of the two monetary unions of the CFA franc zone (CEMAC and WAEMU) vis-à-vis their long-run equilibrium paths. For both CEMAC and WAEMU, our results indicate that: (i) the fundamentals account for most of the fluctuation of the real effective exchange rates, with increases in the terms of trade, government consumption, and productivity improvements causing the exchange rate to appreciate, and increases in investment and openness leading to a depreciation; (ii) at end-2005 both the CEMAC and WAEMU real effective exchange rates were broadly in line with their long-run equilibrium values; and (iii) following a shock, reversion to equilibrium is twice as fast in WAEMU than in CEMAC.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2006/236

Subject:

Econometric analysis Exchange rates Foreign exchange Government consumption National accounts Real effective exchange rates Real exchange rates Vector autoregression

English

Publication Date:

October 1, 2006

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451864960/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2006236

Pages:

40

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