A new & simple model of currency crisis: Bifurcations and the emergence of a bad equilibrium

Abstract

This paper considers the question of currency crisis in a dynamic setting in which agents do nothold rational expectations. Under a sufficient condition the paper shows the possibility of a collapse of the currency due to a progressive loss of reserves. It is important to note that a collapse is not triggered by a bad policy, or bad luck, but due to a regime-shift from a stable to an unstable and unique steady state – bad equilibrium. In this sense the paper offers a new explanation of currency crisis: a crisis that erupts even when there is no evidence of bad policy, or of multiple equilibria (bad luck). The model is further extended to a case of heterogeneous agents.