Macroeconomic Implications of Real Exchange Rate Targeting in Developing Countries

The macroeconomic effects of a variety of exogenous and policy-induced real disturbances are examined under the assumption that the authorities target the level of the real exchange rate. We first discuss the implications--particularly for inflation and the current account--of targeting the rate at an "overdepreciated" level, and then examine the dynamic response of both output and inflation to a number of shocks. Further applications of the model to fiscal explanations of inflation, high-inflation plateaus, and money-based stabilization programs are also considered.