Global Imbalances, Current Account Rebalancing and Exchange Rate Adjustments

Turhan, Ibrahim M. and Arslan, Yavuz and Kılınç, Mustafa (2011): Global Imbalances, Current Account Rebalancing and Exchange Rate Adjustments. Published in: The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Working Paper Series , Vol. 27, No. 11 (December 2011): pp. 1-21.

Abstract

We analyze the global imbalances and the required adjustments for rebalancing in current accounts and real exchange rates. We set up a two-country two-sector model for the US- China with two asymmetries. First, we assume that the size of China initially is one third of the US but its size becomes half of the US in the next ten years consistent with the fast growth expectations in China. Secondly, we assume that China initially runs a net export surplus against the US. Then we quantitatively study two adjustment scenarios. First scenario,called Slow Adjustment, assumes that in the process of growth, Chinese demand composition moves more towards domestic non-tradable sector. In this case, Chinese real exchange rate appreciates gradually and net export surplus also decreases slowly. Second scenario, called Quick Adjustment, assumes that in addition to the higher non-tradable share in output, net export surplus against US goes to zero quickly in fi�ve years. In this case, net export adjustment happens quickly and real exchange rates in China also appreciate faster and at a higher rate than Slow Adjustment case. Even though, global imbalances are eliminated faste in the Quick Adjustment case, high real appreciation in China hurts importers in the US. A comparison in terms of output shows that Slow Adjustments is preferred for both countries.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Global imbalances, Current accounts, Exchange rate adjustments
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F32 - Current Account Adjustment ; Short-Term Capital Movements; F - International Economics > F4 - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance > F41 - Open Economy Macroeconomics; F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F36 - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration

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