Pierre St-Amant - Latest

• November 14, 1999

  Real Exchange Rate Indexes for the Canadian Dollar

  Bank of Canada Review - Autumn 1999 Robert Lafrance, Pierre St-Amant

  In this article, the authors explain the methodology used to construct real exchange rate (RER) indexes. They also compare and assess various Canadian RER indexes from both an empirical and conceptual standpoint. The authors conclude that both theory and empirical evidence suggest that the best RER indexes are those based on unit labour costs. They note, however, that, for practical reasons, policy-makers should also consider RER indexes based on prices when formulating monetary policy.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Exchange rates

• Canada's Exchange Rate Regime and North American Economic Integration: The Role of Risk-Sharing Mechanisms

  Staff Working Paper 1999-17 Zahir Antia, Ramdane Djoudad, Pierre St-Amant

  Our contribution in this paper is threefold. First, we survey the empirical literature on consumption smoothing mechanisms of regional economic shocks. Second, building on the work of Asdrubali et al. (1996), we present evidence on the role played by various smoothing mechanisms for specific economic shocks affecting Canadian provinces. Third, we assess whether smoothing mechanisms […]

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Exchange rate regimes, Exchange rates JEL Code(s): F, F3, F33, F36, G, G1, G15

• Optimal Currency Areas: A Review of the Recent Literature

  Staff Working Paper 1999-16 Robert Lafrance, Pierre St-Amant

  This paper surveys the recent literature on optimal currency areas (OCAs). Topics that are covered include theoretical developments in the context of general-equilibrium models and empirical work on shocks asymmetry and adjustment mechanisms. Issues relating to the endogeneity of OCA criteria, the role of exchange rate flexibility in promoting greater macroeconomic stability, and the links […]

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Exchange rate regimes JEL Code(s): E, E4, E42, F, F3, F33