IMF Working Papers

Impact of Remittances on Natural Rate of Dollarization—Trends in Caucasus and Central Asia

By Rocio Gondo, Altynai Aidarova, Manmohan Singh

September 11, 2020

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Rocio Gondo, Altynai Aidarova, and Manmohan Singh. Impact of Remittances on Natural Rate of Dollarization—Trends in Caucasus and Central Asia, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2020) accessed November 4, 2024

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Summary

This paper discusses migration and remittances trends, and calculates the natural (or benchmark) level of dollarization in Caucasus, Central Asia and others in the region. This natural level of dollarization is conceptually linked to the currency allocation in a portfolio of deposits to maximize welfare, in line with Ize and Levy Yeyati (2003). The fall in remittances due to the economic slowdown since the spread of COVID-19 affects the macroeconomic fundamentals that determine demand for foreign currency deposits. We calculate the natural dollarization level by integrating structural macroeconomic characteristics. We show that despite the reduction in deposit dollarization, there is still a gap with respect to the natural level of dollarization, especially in a scenario of (persistent) lower remittance inflows.

Subject: Balance of payments, Currencies, Dollarization, Exchange rates, Foreign exchange, Income, Migration, Monetary policy, Money, National accounts, Population and demographics, Remittances

Keywords: Benchmark dollarization, Caucasus, Central Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus, COVID, Currencies, Deposit dollarization, Dollarization, Dollarization level, Dollarization policy, Exchange rate depreciation, Exchange rates, Global, Income, Loan dollarization rate, Migration, Natural rate of dollarization, Remittance, Remittance inflow, Remittances, Russia, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    21

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2020/185

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2020185

  • ISBN:

    9781513556536

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941