Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in Malaysia

To evaluate the existence of possible over and under valuation of exchange rate for Malaysia, the study examines the nature of misalignment in the equilibrium real exchange rate and its systemic and structural changes in the fundamentals. We account for structural breaks in the data generating proc...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jauhari Dahalan, Mohammed Umar, Hussin Abdullah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EconJournals 2016-10-01
Series:International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues
Online Access:http://mail.econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/2798
_version_ 1797918302084792320
author Jauhari Dahalan
Mohammed Umar
Hussin Abdullah
author_facet Jauhari Dahalan
Mohammed Umar
Hussin Abdullah
author_sort Jauhari Dahalan
collection DOAJ
description To evaluate the existence of possible over and under valuation of exchange rate for Malaysia, the study examines the nature of misalignment in the equilibrium real exchange rate and its systemic and structural changes in the fundamentals. We account for structural breaks in the data generating process to determine the appropriate order of integration. Based on the suggestion of the weak exogeneity and unit vector analysis, the study estimates the equilibrium and sustainable equilibrium real exchange rate based on the behavioural equilibrium exchange rate (BEER) model using multivariate Johansen cointegration and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) techniques. The result reveals that variation in the sustainable equilibrium real exchange rate (SREER) is collectively accounted by the real capital formation, government consumption expenditure, capital flows and degree of openness. Furthermore, the study identifies changes in the final consumption expenditure as the major factor that leads to persistent variation in the real exchange rate. Nevertheless, the SREER consistently appreciates slightly throughout the sample period with little forms of neutralized depreciation. The consistency in the SREER appreciation is accounted for by the increase in real capital formation. Moreover, the finding on misalignment shows three episodes; the relative sustainable equilibrium with slight evidence of fluctuation; a bit undervaluation with trivial adjustment and the episodes of overvaluation. The policy implication of the study is that, policymakers should focus on fiscal policies that work towards greater import substitution strategies; inter-temporal substitution effect of close substitute of non-tradable commodities and monetary policies that reduce capital outflows. Keywords: exchange rate, DOLS, misalignment, Consumption expenditure JEL Classifications: C43, G01  
first_indexed 2024-04-10T13:27:17Z
format Article
id doaj.art-cf0724c3e88440ecaf4a71167ea0d5e2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2146-4138
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T13:27:17Z
publishDate 2016-10-01
publisher EconJournals
record_format Article
series International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues
spelling doaj.art-cf0724c3e88440ecaf4a71167ea0d5e22023-02-15T16:11:49ZengEconJournalsInternational Journal of Economics and Financial Issues2146-41382016-10-0164Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in MalaysiaJauhari Dahalan0Mohammed Umar1Hussin Abdullah2Universiti Utara MalaysiaFederal University KashereUniversiti Utara Malaysia To evaluate the existence of possible over and under valuation of exchange rate for Malaysia, the study examines the nature of misalignment in the equilibrium real exchange rate and its systemic and structural changes in the fundamentals. We account for structural breaks in the data generating process to determine the appropriate order of integration. Based on the suggestion of the weak exogeneity and unit vector analysis, the study estimates the equilibrium and sustainable equilibrium real exchange rate based on the behavioural equilibrium exchange rate (BEER) model using multivariate Johansen cointegration and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) techniques. The result reveals that variation in the sustainable equilibrium real exchange rate (SREER) is collectively accounted by the real capital formation, government consumption expenditure, capital flows and degree of openness. Furthermore, the study identifies changes in the final consumption expenditure as the major factor that leads to persistent variation in the real exchange rate. Nevertheless, the SREER consistently appreciates slightly throughout the sample period with little forms of neutralized depreciation. The consistency in the SREER appreciation is accounted for by the increase in real capital formation. Moreover, the finding on misalignment shows three episodes; the relative sustainable equilibrium with slight evidence of fluctuation; a bit undervaluation with trivial adjustment and the episodes of overvaluation. The policy implication of the study is that, policymakers should focus on fiscal policies that work towards greater import substitution strategies; inter-temporal substitution effect of close substitute of non-tradable commodities and monetary policies that reduce capital outflows. Keywords: exchange rate, DOLS, misalignment, Consumption expenditure JEL Classifications: C43, G01   http://mail.econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/2798
spellingShingle Jauhari Dahalan
Mohammed Umar
Hussin Abdullah
Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in Malaysia
International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues
title Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in Malaysia
title_full Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in Malaysia
title_fullStr Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in Malaysia
title_short Fundamentals and the Equilibrium of Real Exchange Rate of an Emerging Economy: Estimating the Exchange Rate Misalignment in Malaysia
title_sort fundamentals and the equilibrium of real exchange rate of an emerging economy estimating the exchange rate misalignment in malaysia
url http://mail.econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/2798
work_keys_str_mv AT jauharidahalan fundamentalsandtheequilibriumofrealexchangerateofanemergingeconomyestimatingtheexchangeratemisalignmentinmalaysia
AT mohammedumar fundamentalsandtheequilibriumofrealexchangerateofanemergingeconomyestimatingtheexchangeratemisalignmentinmalaysia
AT hussinabdullah fundamentalsandtheequilibriumofrealexchangerateofanemergingeconomyestimatingtheexchangeratemisalignmentinmalaysia