Exchange Rate and Interest Rate Distribution and Volatility under the Portuguese Target Zone

Authors

  • António Portugal Duarte University of Coimbra and GEMF, Faculty of Economics, Portugal
  • João Sousa Andrade University of Coimbra and GEMF, Faculty of Economics, Portugal
  • Adelaide Duarte University of Coimbra and GEMF, Faculty of Economics, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2298/PAN1003261P

Keywords:

Exchange rate stability, EMS, Volatility and target zones

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse the exchange rate and interest rate distribution and volatility under the participation of the Portuguese economy in the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) of the European Monetary System (EMS) based on some of the main predictions of the target zone literature. Portugal adopted this exchange rate target zone from April 6 1992 until December 31 1998. During this period, the exchange rate distribution reveals that the majority of the observations lie close to the central parity, thus rejecting one of the key predictions of the Paul Krugman (1991) model. The analysis of the data also shows that exchange rate volatility tended to increase as the exchange rate approached the edges of the band, contrary to the predictions of the basic model. Interest rate differential volatility, on the other hand, seemed to behave in line with theoretical predictions. This suggests an increase in the credibility of monetary policy, allowing us to conclude that the adoption of a target zone has contributed decisively to the creation of the macroeconomic stability conditions necessary for the participation in the European Monetary Union (EMU). The Portuguese integration process should therefore be considered as an example to be followed by other small open economies in transition to the euro area.

Key words: Exchange rate stability, EMS, Volatility and target zones.
JEL: C32, C51, F31, F41, G15.

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Published

2010-10-10

How to Cite

Duarte, A. P., Andrade, J. S., & Duarte, A. (2010). Exchange Rate and Interest Rate Distribution and Volatility under the Portuguese Target Zone. Panoeconomicus, 57(3), 261–282. https://doi.org/10.2298/PAN1003261P

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Section

Original scientific paper