Download or read book The Optimal Exchange Rate Regime for Lebanon written by Rima Khalil Nehme and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the increasing frequency and incidence of international financial crises, a nd in light of the volatile economic and political situation in Lebanon and the region, the choice of exchange rate regime has become critical. The study review s the historical economic background of the Lebanese economy from the civil war up to the present time, explaining the context of Lebanese dollarization. It als o explores different aspects of economic models and thoughts pertaining to excha nge rate regimes. The project tackles each of the pros and cons of fixed exchange rates. Lebanon i s a small economy open to international trade, with little public policy credibi lity. Hence, the loss of monetary policy independence will not affect macroecono mic stability. Lost competitiveness due to the fixed exchange rate does not seem to be a critical issue in Lebanon especially that devaluation in developing cou ntries often proved to be disastrous and lead to harsh economic and social retal iations. The paper also examines the possibility of a basket currency peg. While this reg ime might have proven to be a successful transition phase for some countries, it will not necessarily have the same outcome in a country like Lebanon which curr ently satisfies all the criteria for a hard peg. A simple correlation between economic activity in Lebanon and economic activity in the United States and the European Union respectively, indicates that the Leb anese economy is more strongly correlated with the US economy. The choice of the US dollar as the ultimate anchor currency is also corroborated by the stronger correlation between economic growth in Lebanon and the real LBP/dollar exchange rate.
Download or read book Lebanon s Exchange Rate Regime with Reference to the IMF Policies written by Ramona Tanios Moubarak and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For most countries, the choice of exchange rate regime is the most important decision of economic policy. This is justified since the exchange rate is a variable that determines both the flow of trade of goods and services; it also exerts great pressure on the balance of payments, the general price level as well as other key macroeconomic variables. The choice of exchange rate regime has thus been, and for several decades, the focus of economic policy debates.--While most theoretical discussions and empirical research on the choice of exchange rate regime for emerging economies remain controversial, some conclusions and consensus now seem to emerge and begin to achieve unanimity among researchers in open economies and are, therefore, increasingly taken into account by the monetary authorities of countries in their quest for optimal exchange rate regime.--Lebanon suffered from internal political instabilities that affected negatively its economy and mainly its currency stability. From a floating exchange rate regime to a shortly adopted intermediate regime and finally a fixed regime that is lasting till present. Taking into account the Optimum Currency Areas framework, macroeconomic dynamics and political stability empirical analysis of the determinants of the Lebanese exchange rate regime will be conducted. Then a cross exchange rate regimes evaluation will be presented.
Download or read book Exchange Rate Regimes with Reference to Lebanon written by Lynn Maroun Azar and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis assesses Lebanon's current exchange rate regime in the context of prevailing theories of exchange rate determination. It attempts to show whether the prevailing policy of anchoring the pound to the dollar, adopted since late 1992, continues to be suitable at the present time, given the high costs that are being incurred as a result of maintaining this policy. Hence, one major goal of this study is to determine whether alternative exchange rate regimes may be more appropriate for the purpose of assuring the sustenance of a stable economy.--The thesis is divided into two parts. Part I is an overview of the theories of exchange rate determinations and exchange rate regimes with special reference to developing countries in the context of globalization. Part II assesses Lebanese exchange rate policy since 1992. While this policy has no doubt contributed to the reduction in the rate of inflation, it has also led to substantial economic costs resulting in part from the maintenance of relatively substantia! budgetary deficits. In turn, the pound has come under severe pressures in the past several years, leading to a substantial loss in the reserves of the central bank. The question therefore arises whether the policy of anchoring the pound to the dollar should be continued, and if so under what conditions, or whether a more flexible exchange rate policy would be more appropriate.--A model will be developed to determine the real exchange rate of the Lebanese pound versus the US Dollar. With the help of these findings, the thesis will attempt to assess the most appropriate exchange rate system that Lebanon should follow, and the strategies to be adopted for this purpose.
Download or read book Optimal and Sustainable Exchange Rate Regimes written by Masahiro Kawai and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 1992-11-01 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper examines the question of how to design an optimal and sustainable exchange rate regime in a world economy of two interdependent countries. It develops a Barro-Gordon type two-country model and compares noncooperative equilibria under different assumptions of monetary policy credibility and different exchange rate regimes. Using a two-stage game approach to the strategic choice of policy instruments, it identifies optimal (in a Pare to sense) and sustainable (self-enforcing) exchange rate regimes. The theoretical results indicate that the choice of such regimes depends fundamentally on the credibility of monetary policy commitments by the two countries’ authorities. The nature of shocks to the economies and the substitutability between goods produced in the two countries also play some role. International coordination on instrument choice is necessary to design optimal and sustainable exchange rate regimes.
Download or read book Exchange Rate Regimes written by Nada Majed Musallam and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This project takes a look at world exchange rate regimes and the impact of capit al flows on developing countries, with a special reference to Lebanon over the p eriod from 1990 till 2004, in an attempt to explore the main reasons behind the sustainability of the country's pegged regime. In this context, the project examines an economic review of Lebanon and a compar ative study of the country's economic performance before and after Paris II meet ing. It also discusses the Central Bank's objectives and monetary instruments, a s well as the country's monetary performance throughout a financial ratio analys is of the banking sector. A statistical analysis follows in an effort to point o ut the significant variables that link the banking sector's financial performanc e to the country's overall performance. This study suggests that the Lebanese government focus on stimulating growth and creating new job opportunities by stimulating investment in the non-bank financ ial sector. Moreover, capital market reforms are necessary to provide the govern ment with sources of funding other than the banking sector. In addition, the Central Bank should be able to affect interest rates by working closely in coordination with fiscal policy, in order to make use of the excess funds placed as foreign currency savings and stimulate the economy. It is also r ecommended that the Central Bank start considering shifting to a more flexible r egime in the future, in order to allow for economic shocks to be absorbed more s moothly. Yet, in order to achieve the above, external support might be required to break the cycle of unsustainable public debt.
Download or read book The Political Choice of the Optimal Exchange Rate Regime written by L. J. Ruland and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Choosing Exchange Regimes in the Middle East and North Africa written by Abdelali Jbili and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2003-09-05 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This pamphlet reviews the exchange regimes of five emerging market countries in the region--Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia and an oil-exporting country, Iran, to see whether they need to consider adopting more flexible arrangements as they further open their economies to trade and capital flows. In fact, two countries, Egypt and Iran, have recently adopted flexible exchange rate arrangements, but their experience is too recent to warrant meaningful conclusions. The pamphlet highlights the criteria for an exchange regime choice, presents a country-by-country assessment of existing exchange regimes, explores options for the future based on the forward-looking analysis of reform prospects in each country, raises the issue of a nominal anchor for countries with floating exchange rates, and considers the pros and cons of monetary aggregate and inflation targeting as policy anchors. The pamphlet looks at the recent move by Egypt and Iran toward more flexible exchange rate regimes, and discusses the required steps to ensure the success of these experiences. For the other countries, the choice is less clear-cut and more of a long-term nature. In either case, transition to a more flexible exchange rate arrangement raises the question of what conditions countries would need to meet if they opted for greater flexibility, including changes to their monetary policy framework.
Download or read book Exchange Rate Management in the MENA Region written by Rola Ismail Mourdaa and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exchange rate management in the MENA region has been an important concern for ec onomic and political researches. After the breakdown of the Bretton Woods system and due to the increased openness of regional and global trade and capital mark ets, many countries have ceased pegging their exchange rates to the US dollar an d shifted towards more flexible exchange rate regimes. This project studies empi rically the management of the Lebanese exchange rate regime in comparison to Egy pt, Jordan and Tunisia's exchange rate policies in the context of the ISLM model . Accordingly, the project is divided into five chapters: The first Chapter will introduce the project. The second chapter includes litera ture overview of the evolution of exchange rate regimes in the world, exchange r ate regimes in the MENA region, and the general literature on the types of excha nge rate regimes with a focus on exchange rate policies in selected MENA countri es (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia). The third chapter reviews the developme nt of the Lebanese economy with special emphasis on the performance of the Leban ese exchange rate regime in pre, during and post-war era. The costs and benefits of the adoption of fixed exchange policy are discussed in detail with reference to some alternative arrangements. The fourth chapter empirically assesses the s uitable exchange rate policy for Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia: floating or pegging exchange rate policy should be adopted; in the case of the latter arran gement whether the peg should be to the USD, EURO or a basket of the main intern ational currencies. The last chapter concludes the project.
Download or read book Evolution and Performance of Exchange Rate Regimes written by Mr.Kenneth Rogoff and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2003-12-01 with total page 85 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using recent advances in the classification of exchange rate regimes, this paper finds no support for the popular bipolar view that countries will tend over time to move to the polar extremes of free float or rigid peg. Rather, intermediate regimes have shown remarkable durability. The analysis suggests that as economies mature, the value of exchange rate flexibility rises. For countries at a relatively early stage of financial development and integration, fixed or relatively rigid regimes appear to offer some anti-inflation credibility gain without compromising growth objectives. As countries develop economically and institutionally, there appear to be considerable benefits to more flexible regimes. For developed countries that are not in a currency union, relatively flexible exchange rate regimes appear to offer higher growth without any cost in credibility.
Download or read book The Consequences of Implementing a Floating Exchange Rate in Lebanon written by Jad Sayed Boudib and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis tests two hypotheses. The first one is whether the implementation of a floating exchange rate regime in Lebanon promotes growth. The second one is the postwar elasticity of currency substitution between LBP and USD is insignificant. In order to test these hypotheses, we used respectively a VAR model and multiple linear regression model. Our results show a higher GDP and investment following the implementation of a floating rate. However, this regime increased the inflation rate. To that end, we implement a contractionary monetary policy and test its effect on the economy. This policy lowers instantly the inflation rate. Yet, a contractionary monetary policy is not efficient in case of high elasticity of currency substitution. for that purpose we calculate that elasticity for two periods (the war period and the postwar period). The war period shows a high degree of currency substitution unlike the postwar sample where the elasticity of currency substitution was not significant. Our findings are in accordance with previously conducted studies and macroeconomic theory.
Download or read book Monetary Policy and Exchange Rate Regimes written by Eliana A. Cardoso and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Exchange Rate Policy Impact on Growth Investment and Trade with Reference to Lebanon written by Carine Youssef Jebran and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis empirically analyzes the fixed exchange rate regime adopted in Leban on. In particular, we investigate whether, as its supporters claim, the fixed re gime is associated with an economic growth and an increase in international trad e and investment inflows. We analyzed this issue by reviewing the recent literat ure on exchange rate policy and its impact on growth, trade and investment. Then we used three different models to evaluate the exchange rate policy. Our findin gs suggest that this policy had a positive impact on macroeconomic indicators fo r the first eight years. However, we also found that this impact is varying in t he recent years to become negative.
Download or read book Fixed Versus Floating Exchange Rates how Price Setting Affects the Optimal Choice of Exchange rate Regime written by Michael B. Devereux and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Political Choice of the Optimal Exchange Rate Regime written by L. J. Ruland and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 19 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Lebanon written by International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept. and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2019-10-17 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This 2019 Article IV Consultation with Lebanon highlights that Lebanon’s economic position continues to be very difficult, with very low growth, high public debt and large twin deficits. While financial stability has been maintained, deposit inflows, critical to finance the budget and external deficits, slowed down during the past year, reducing the authorities’ room for manoeuvre. The new government has taken some important policy steps to start the needed policy adjustment, which could help raise confidence among investors and donors. The highest priority is the implementation of a sustainable fiscal adjustment that will bend down the path of the public debt-to-gross domestic product ratio through a combination of revenue and expenditure measures. This needs to be complemented by structural reforms and concessionally financed investment to raise Lebanon’s growth potential and help external adjustment, as well as policies to build further buffers in Lebanon’s financial sector. Structural reforms should prioritize reforming the electricity sector, removing impediments to and lowering the cost of doing business, as well as improving governance and reducing corruption.
Download or read book Evolution of Exchange Rate Regimes written by International Monetary Fund and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 1988-12-09 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The IMF Working Papers series is designed to make IMF staff research available to a wide audience. Almost 300 Working Papers are released each year, covering a wide range of theoretical and analytical topics, including balance of payments, monetary and fiscal issues, global liquidity, and national and international economic developments.
Download or read book Flexible Exchange Rates for a Stable World Economy written by Joseph E. Gagnon and published by Peterson Institute. This book was released on 2011 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Volatile exchange rates and how to manage them are a contentious topic whenever economic policymakers gather in international meetings. This book examines the broad parameters of exchange rate policy in light of both high-powered theory and real-world experience. What are the costs and benefits of flexible versus fixed exchange rates? How much of a role should the exchange rate play in monetary policy? Why don't volatile exchange rates destabilize inflation and output? The principal finding of this book is that using monetary policy to fight exchange rate volatility, including through the adoption of a fixed exchange rate regime, leads to greater volatility of employment, output, and inflation. In other words, the "cure" for exchange rate volatility is worse than the disease. This finding is demonstrated in economic models, in historical case studies, and in statistical analysis of the data. The book devotes considerable attention to understanding the reasons why volatile exchange rates do not destabilize inflation and output. The book concludes that many countries would benefit from allowing greater flexibility of their exchange rates in order to target monetary policy at stabilization of their domestic economies. Few, if any, countries would benefit from a move in the opposite direction.
