The Real Exchange Rate and Prices of Traded Goods in OECD Countries

The book deals with real exchange rate changes resulting either from shifts in nominal exchange rates or increases in costs that are asymmetric across countries. It is shown how exchange rates and local production costs are passed through into import prices. It is found both analytically and empirically for OECD countries that pass-through is incomplete and the degree of pass-through depends on country and industry characteristics such as production share, market structure, product attributes and demand features. The book also investigates the implications of exchange rate changes for profits, investment and the entry/exit decisions of firms. The main finding is that even though the exchange rate changes have a limited impact on price competitiveness, they do matter for location and investment decisions.

Aim of the Study. - Various Approaches to Price Comparisons of International Goods under Production Costs Shifts between Countries. - Theoretical Determinants for the Degree of Pass-Through and Pricing to Market. - Empirical Results for the Degree of Pass-Through in Domestic and Export Markets. - The Impact of Cost Competitivenesson Relative Export Prices and World Market Shares. - The Law of One Price and Adjustments of Real Economy. - Concluding Remarks: Is the Real Exchange Rate an Issue for National Policy? .