This paper shows that the response of inflation to external shocks is very different when the authorities target the real exchange rate than when they follow a fixed exchange rate or a preannounced crawling peg. Specifically, shocks that would have no effect on the steady-state inflation rate...

It is often argued that the parallel market premium is a useful indicator of real exchange rate misalignment in developing countries. The empirical evidence does not, however, suggest the existence of a robust correlation between these two endogenous variables that is independent of the nature...

Intro -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- 1 Overview -- I ADDRESSING FINANCIAL SECTOR WEAKNESSES -- 2 Current Issues Facing the Financial Sector -- 3 Banks and Credit in Japan -- II CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING AND STRUCTURAL REFORMS -- 4 The Resolution and Collection Corporation and the...

This paper revisits the bipolar prescription for exchange rate regime choice and asks two questions: are the poles of hard pegs and pure floats still safer than the middle? And where to draw the line between safe floats and risky intermediate regimes? Our findings, based on a sample of 50 EMEs...