Real Exchange Rate Dynamics Under The Current Float: A Re–Examination

Abstract

Augmented Dickey–Fuller regressions on pooled (but not individual) real exchange rates for the post–1973 period consistently reject the unit root null, even after accounting for cross–sectional dependence. The inference that the series is stationary, however, is not necessarily correct, because these tests strongly over–reject the null in certain circumstances, particularly when the series has a stochastic unit root. We find that bilateral real exchange rates against the US dollar have a stochastic unit root. Out–of–sample prediction exercises for an autoregressive model confirm these findings.