Nonlinear exchange rate pass-through in timber products: The case of oriented strand board in Canada and the United States

Abstract

We assess exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) for U.S. and Canadian prices for oriented strand board (OSB), a structural wood panel product used extensively in U.S. residential construction. Because of its prominence in construction and international trade, OSB markets are likely sensitive to general economic conditions. In keeping with recent research, we examine regime-specific ERPT effects; we use a smooth transition vector error correction model. We also consider ERPT asymmetries associated with a measure of general macroeconomic activity. Our results indicate that during expansionary periods ERPT is modest, but during downturns, ERPT effects are larger.