Economic Implications of Foreign Exchange Rationing in Ethiopia

Economic Implications of Foreign Exchange Rationing in Ethiopia PDF Author: Paul Dorosh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 28

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Book Description
Ethiopia enjoyed remarkable economic growth from 2004/05 to 2008/09, in large part due to increases in foreign transfers and capital inflows combined with expanded domestic credit to fund major increases in private and public investments in infrastructure and housing. However, this rapid growth was accompanied by a major appreciation of the real exchange rate (by 34 percent between July 2004 and July 2008) that reduced incentives for domestic production of exportables and non-protected importables. Moreover, major external shocks to the economy (including increases in world prices of fuel in 2007 and early 2008) exacerbated foreign exchange and macro-economic imbalances. Beginning in March 2008, access to foreign exchange for imports has been restricted (rationed) to avoid excessive drawdown of foreign exchange reserves. Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model simulations suggest that there are substantial adverse efficiency and distributional effects of foreign exchange rationing. Foreign exchange controls result in the creation of large rents that likely accrue mainly to nonpoor households. At the same time, foreign exchange controls reduce economic efficiency so that real incomes from factors of production (land, capital and labor) decline, as do overall household incomes (except for those who gain large rents). Moreover, foreign exchange controls inhibit depreciation of the real exchange rate, and thus slow or prevent reversal of the real exchange rate appreciation between 2004/05 and 2007/08, which has resulted in major price disincentives for exports and production of import substitutes. The modeling results presented here are not meant as definitive estimates, but rather as indicators of the broad magnitudes of the effect of the policies simulated. Further efforts are needed to refine the model simulations so as to include the effects of changes in world prices and to assess dynamic effects of shocks and policies on growth and income distribution. Nonetheless, the broad policy implications of this analysis are clear. There are substantial costs to both foreign exchange rationing and real exchange rate appreciation in terms of growth (reduced incentives for production of tradables) and income distribution (large rents accruing to the non-poor). Policy reforms need not involve full liberalization of the foreign exchange market, however. Various versions of managed floats and controls in foreign capital markets exist that can gradually reduce economic rents, improve incentives for exports and increase overall economic efficiency. Indeed, policies since late 2008 have effectively reduced the earlier appreciation of the real exchange rate. To recover more fully from the effects of the adverse external price and capital inflow shocks of 2007 and 2008, and to sustain the rapid propoor growth of recent years, though, further measures to restore real price incentives to exports, and reduce rents and economic inefficiencies arising from import rationing should be considered.

Economic Implications of Foreign Exchange Rationing in Ethiopia

Economic Implications of Foreign Exchange Rationing in Ethiopia PDF Author: Paul Dorosh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 28

Get Book Here

Book Description
Ethiopia enjoyed remarkable economic growth from 2004/05 to 2008/09, in large part due to increases in foreign transfers and capital inflows combined with expanded domestic credit to fund major increases in private and public investments in infrastructure and housing. However, this rapid growth was accompanied by a major appreciation of the real exchange rate (by 34 percent between July 2004 and July 2008) that reduced incentives for domestic production of exportables and non-protected importables. Moreover, major external shocks to the economy (including increases in world prices of fuel in 2007 and early 2008) exacerbated foreign exchange and macro-economic imbalances. Beginning in March 2008, access to foreign exchange for imports has been restricted (rationed) to avoid excessive drawdown of foreign exchange reserves. Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model simulations suggest that there are substantial adverse efficiency and distributional effects of foreign exchange rationing. Foreign exchange controls result in the creation of large rents that likely accrue mainly to nonpoor households. At the same time, foreign exchange controls reduce economic efficiency so that real incomes from factors of production (land, capital and labor) decline, as do overall household incomes (except for those who gain large rents). Moreover, foreign exchange controls inhibit depreciation of the real exchange rate, and thus slow or prevent reversal of the real exchange rate appreciation between 2004/05 and 2007/08, which has resulted in major price disincentives for exports and production of import substitutes. The modeling results presented here are not meant as definitive estimates, but rather as indicators of the broad magnitudes of the effect of the policies simulated. Further efforts are needed to refine the model simulations so as to include the effects of changes in world prices and to assess dynamic effects of shocks and policies on growth and income distribution. Nonetheless, the broad policy implications of this analysis are clear. There are substantial costs to both foreign exchange rationing and real exchange rate appreciation in terms of growth (reduced incentives for production of tradables) and income distribution (large rents accruing to the non-poor). Policy reforms need not involve full liberalization of the foreign exchange market, however. Various versions of managed floats and controls in foreign capital markets exist that can gradually reduce economic rents, improve incentives for exports and increase overall economic efficiency. Indeed, policies since late 2008 have effectively reduced the earlier appreciation of the real exchange rate. To recover more fully from the effects of the adverse external price and capital inflow shocks of 2007 and 2008, and to sustain the rapid propoor growth of recent years, though, further measures to restore real price incentives to exports, and reduce rents and economic inefficiencies arising from import rationing should be considered.

The effect of exchange rates on economic growth in Ethiopia

The effect of exchange rates on economic growth in Ethiopia PDF Author: Muluken Nigussie Tessema
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 334614514X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 81

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Book Description
Master's Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject Business economics - General, grade: 3.68, Saint Mary's University, language: English, abstract: This study attempts to investigate the effect of exchange rates on economic growth in Ethiopia using annual time series data spanning from 1985/86 to 2014/15. The explanatory variables in this study were real effective exchange rate, government final consumption expenditure, gross fixed capital formation, broad money supply and trade openness. The multilateral real exchange rates is used to measure real exchange rates. Results from Vector Error Correction Model revealed that real effective exchange rates, broad money supply and trade openness have a positive long run effect on economic growth, while government final consumption have a negative long run effect on the economic growth of Ethiopia. From the regression results, it was noted that undervaluation of the currency is contractionary in the long run and neutral in the short- run. As such, the effect of exchange rates on economic growth works through the supply channel. It is the reflection of various economic and policy shocks, mainly a strategy shifts, of the government. Based on the findings of this study, the researcher recommended that since the Ethiopian output is dominated by primary agricultural products and it is insensitive for the change in exchange rate. Government intervention is needed to balance the adverse effect of exchange rate movements until the economy well transformed from agricultural lead economy to industrial lead economy and becomes less dependent on imported raw materials.

An assessment of IFPRI’S work in Ethiopia 1995–2010: Ideology, influence, and idiosyncrasy

An assessment of IFPRI’S work in Ethiopia 1995–2010: Ideology, influence, and idiosyncrasy PDF Author: Mitch Renkow, and Roger Slade
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description


Food and Agriculture in Ethiopia

Food and Agriculture in Ethiopia PDF Author: Paul Dorosh
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN: 0812208617
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 377

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Book Description
The perception of Ethiopia projected in the media is often one of chronic poverty and hunger, but this bleak assessment does not accurately reflect most of the country today. Ethiopia encompasses a wide variety of agroecologies and peoples. Its agriculture sector, economy, and food security status are equally complex. In fact, since 2001 the per capita income in certain rural areas has risen by more than 50 percent, and crop yields and availability have also increased. Higher investments in roads and mobile phone technology have led to improved infrastructure and thereby greater access to markets, commodities, services, and information. In Food and Agriculture in Ethiopia: Progress and Policy Challenges, Paul Dorosh and Shahidur Rashid, along with other experts, tell the story of Ethiopia's political, economic, and agricultural transformation. The book is designed to provide empirical evidence to shed light on the complexities of agricultural and food policy in today's Ethiopia, highlight major policies and interventions of the past decade, and provide insights into building resilience to natural disasters and food crises. It examines the key issues, constraints, and opportunities that are likely to shape a food-secure future in Ethiopia, focusing on land quality, crop production, adoption of high-quality seed and fertilizer, and household income. Students, researchers, policy analysts, and decisionmakers will find this book a useful overview of Ethiopia's political, economic, and agricultural transformation as well as a resource for major food policy issues in Ethiopia. Contributors: Dawit Alemu, Guush Berhane, Jordan Chamberlin, Sarah Coll-Black, Paul Dorosh, Berhanu Gebremedhin, Sinafikeh Asrat Gemessa, Daniel O. Gilligan, John Graham, Kibrom Tafere Hirfrfot, John Hoddinott, Adam Kennedy, Neha Kumar, Mehrab Malek, Linden McBride, Dawit Kelemework Mekonnen, Asfaw Negassa, Shahidur Rashid, Emily Schmidt, David Spielman, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, Seneshaw Tamiru, James Thurlow, William Wiseman.

Macroeconomics, agriculture, and food security

Macroeconomics, agriculture, and food security PDF Author: Díaz-Bonilla, Eugenio
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN: 0896298590
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 644

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Book Description
Why write a book on macroeconomic policies and their links to agriculture and food security in developing countries? The food price spikes of the years just prior to 2010 and the economic, political, and social dislocations they generated refocused the attention of policymakers and development practitioners on the agricultural sector and food security concerns. But even without those traumatic events, the importance of agriculture for developing countries—and for an adequate functioning of the world economy— cannot be denied. First, although declining over time, primary agriculture still represents important percentages of developing countries’ overall domestic production, exports, and employment. If agroindustrial, transportation, commercial, and other related activities are also counted, then the economic and social importance of agriculture-based sectors increases significantly. Furthermore, large numbers of the world’s poor still live in rural areas and work in agriculture. Through the links via production, trade, employment, and prices, agricultural production is also crucial for national food security. Second, it has been shown that agriculture in developing countries has important growth and employment multipliers for the rest of the economy, and agriculture seems to have larger positive effects in reducing poverty than growth in other sectors. Third, agriculture is not only important for individual developing countries, but it has global significance, considering the large presence of developing countries in world agricultural production and the increasing participation in international trade of those products (these three points will be covered in greater detail in Chapter 1).

Exchange Rate Policy and Devaluation in Malawi

Exchange Rate Policy and Devaluation in Malawi PDF Author: Karl Pauw
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
The Malawian economy has in recent months been plagued by a severe foreign exchange crisis, fueled in part by a steadily rising import bill, sharp successive declines in tobacco export prices, the suspension of direct government budget support from several development partners in 2011, and an all-time low in international investor confidence. Up until the regime change in April 2012, the government resisted calls for a devaluation, which at the time resulted in a thriving parallel foreign exchange market. At its peak, the Malawi kwacha was trading at a premium of up to 100 percent in this secondary market. Economic theory shows that such a situation has adverse implications for an economy in terms of the balance-of-payments adjustment process and income distribution in the economy. Those with access to foreign exchange at the official rate are able to extract rents by selling foreign currency or imported goods at inflated prices. Imports sold domestically are then often valued at the parallel exchange rate rather than the official rate, with the parallel market rate serving as the only adjustment mechanism through which equilibrium can be restored in the balance of payments. This has a significant impact on domestic inflation to the detriment of consumers, while those with preferential access to foreign exchange at the official rate capture large rents. A simulation exercise using an economywide model for Malawi considers how the economy responds to different types of foreign exchange shocks under fixed and flexible exchange rate regimes. While the foreign exchange crisis in itself has severe negative implications for the economy, our results suggest that the economy responds much better to these types of shocks under a flexible exchange rate regime (that is, devaluations or a free-floating currency). Our main simulation shows that under the latter policy, gross domestic product growth, although negative, is 1.5 percentage points higher than under a fixed exchange rate policy. Similarly, poverty is 6.9 percentage points lower. A relaxation of the exchange rate policy, however, is only part of the solution; in the longer run, good governance and sound macroeconomic policy that is conducive to growth are needed to address the underlying structural problems in the economy that also contribute to foreign exchange shortages.

Food Price Volatility and Its Implications for Food Security and Policy

Food Price Volatility and Its Implications for Food Security and Policy PDF Author: Matthias Kalkuhl
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319282018
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 620

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Book Description
This book provides fresh insights into concepts, methods and new research findings on the causes of excessive food price volatility. It also discusses the implications for food security and policy responses to mitigate excessive volatility. The approaches applied by the contributors range from on-the-ground surveys, to panel econometrics and innovative high-frequency time series analysis as well as computational economics methods. It offers policy analysts and decision-makers guidance on dealing with extreme volatility.

The Impact of Economic Reforms on Rural Households in Ethiopia

The Impact of Economic Reforms on Rural Households in Ethiopia PDF Author: Stefan Dercon
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821350348
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
But the experience of the poor is mixed, with some outperforming all other households and others persisting in poverty. Although economic reforms do not deliver similar benefits to all the poor, there are high costs for withholding reforms. The study also highlights the effects of shocks on households and the need for social protection measures in a poverty reduction strategy."--BOOK JACKET.

Foreign Economic Trends and Their Implications for the United States

Foreign Economic Trends and Their Implications for the United States PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Economic history
Languages : en
Pages : 524

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Book Description


Ethiopia's agrifood system: Past trends, present challenges, and future scenarios

Ethiopia's agrifood system: Past trends, present challenges, and future scenarios PDF Author: Dorosh, Paul A., ed.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN: 0896296911
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 520

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Book Description
Ethiopia has experienced impressive agricultural growth and poverty reduction, stemming in part from substantial public investments in agriculture. Yet, the agriculture sector now faces increasing land and water constraints along with other challenges to growth. Ethiopia’s Agrifood System: Past Trends, Present Challenges, and Future Scenarios presents a forward-looking analysis of Ethiopia’s agrifood system in the context of a rapidly changing economy. Growth in the agriculture sector remains essential to continued poverty reduction in Ethiopia and will depend on sustained investment in the agrifood system, especially private sector investment. Many of the policies for a successful agricultural and rural development strategy for Ethiopia are relevant for other African countries, as well. Ethiopia’s Agrifood System should be a valuable resource for policymakers, development specialists, and others concerned with economic development in Africa south of the Sahara.