Exchange rates and inflation dynamics in multicurrency regimes : the case of Zimbabwe (2014 to 2024)

Exchange rate volatility has emerged to be one of the most critical determinants of price stability for countries operating in multicurrency systems with their own currency in the basket of currencies. This study empirically examined the impact of exchange rates (official and parallel market rates) on inflation in Zimbabwe during the multicurrency system for the period 2014 to 2024, together with comparing the impacts of the official and parallel market exchange rates on inflation. Time series and monthly data were used to examine the short and long run impact of exchange rates on inflation in an ARDL estimation framework. Findings revealed a short run and long run positive relationship between both the official and parallel market exchange rates and inflation, with the parallel market exchange rate being the most significant variable. Other control variables used, such as domestic productivity, have a highly significant negative impact on inflation through the official and parallel exchange rate models in both the short and the long run. Money supply, real interest rate, trade balance, foreign prices, foreign output, stock market prices and foreign currency reserves have varied impacts through either the official or parallel market exchange rate models. Policy recommendations include a contractionary Monetary and expansionary Fiscal policy mix that will result in exchange rate appreciation and stability, productivity growth, trade surplus, growth in reserves, and ultimately low prices. The exchange rate policy recommended in this study is to shelve discard the local currency in the multicurrency system until industrial capacity utilization exceeds 50% to add the local currency to the basket of currencies and 75% for mono-local currency (de-dollarization).