Is Inflation Domestic or Global? Evidence from Emerging Markets

Author/Editor:

Rudolfs Bems ; Francesca Caselli ; Francesco Grigoli ; Bertrand Gruss ; Weicheng Lian

Publication Date:

November 8, 2018

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

Following a period of disinflation during the 1990s and early 2000s, inflation in emerging markets has remained remarkably low and stable. Was this related to a global disinflation environment triggered by China's integration into world trade and the broader globalization in these economies, or to better domestic policies? In this paper, we review the inflation performance in a sample of 19 large emerging markets in the past couple of decades and quantify the impact of domestic and global factors in determining inflation. We document that the level, volatility, and persistence of inflation declined significantly, albeit not uniformly. Our results suggest that longer-term inflation expectations, linked to domestic factors, were the main determinant of inflation. External factors played a considerably smaller role. The results are a useful piece of evidence as emerging markets craft their monetary policies to navigate the future shift in global financial conditions.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2018/241

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

November 8, 2018

ISBN/ISSN:

9781484381595/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2018241

Format:

Paper

Pages:

26

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