Report
Patrick Artus

Exchange rate policy: The cost of trying to support industry by weakening the exchange rate is high

Many countries (United States, euro zone, possibly China) want to support their manufacturing industry with a weak (depreciated) exchange rate. But this “industrialist” policy entails a high cost, because: The price elasticities of exports and imports in volume terms are low. A depreciation of the exchange rate therefore does not do much to improve the situation of industry; A depreciation of the exchange rate reduces a country’s real income due to the increase in import prices, and this second effect outweighs the improvement in foreign trade in volume terms, leading to a loss of GDP. The countries that try to weaken their exchange rates to improve the situation of their industry must therefore have a strong preference for industry, since they are willing to pay a high cost (in the form of a loss of income due to the deterioration in the terms of trade) to support their industry.
Provider
Natixis
Natixis

Based across the world’s leading financial centers, Natixis CIB Research offers an integrated view of the markets. The team provides support to inform Natixis clients’ investment and hedging decisions across all asset classes.

 

Analysts
Patrick Artus

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