Exchange market pressure and absorption by international reserves
Subtitle: emerging markets and fear of reserve loss during the 2008-09 crisis
By: Joshua Aizenman, Michael M. Hutchison
Contributors: Hutchison, Michael M.; National Bureau of Economic Research
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 16260; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) -- working paper no. 16260.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Description: "This paper evaluates how the global financial crisis emanating from the U.S.  was transmitted to emerging markets.  Our focus is on the extent that the crisis caused external market pressures (EMP), and whether the absorption of the shock was mainly through exchange rate depreciation or the loss of international reserves.  Controlling for variety of factors associated with EMP, we find clear evidence that emerging markets with higher total foreign liabilities, including short- and long-term debt, equities, FDI and derivative products-had greater exposure and were much more vulnerable to the financial crisis.  Countries with large balance sheet exposure -- high external portfolio liabilities exceeding international reserves-absorbed the global shock by allowing greater exchange rate depreciation and comparatively less reserve loss.  Despite the remarkable buildup of international reserves by emerging markets during the period prior to the financial crisis, countries relied primarily on exchange rate depreciation rather than reserve loss to absorb most of the exchange market pressure shock.  This could reflect a deliberate choice ("fear of reserve loss" or competitive depreciations) or market actions that caused very rapid exchange rate adjustment, especially in emerging markets with open capital markets, overwhelming policy actions"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 11/4/2010.

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available in print.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.