Revisiting the Impact of Oil Price Shocks on Macroeconomic Performance: An International Perspective

Abstract

Dramatic fluctuations in oil prices from time to time demand more research that can evaluate the impact of oil price shocks across the globe. Using a large-scale structural vector autoregression (SVAR) model that allows for an evolving parameter structure and that covers 60 oil-importing and -exporting economies, this paper disentangles the direct and indirect effects of oil price shocks on an economy. The results based on changes in oil prices and oil prices decomposed into aggregate demand, oil-specific demand and oil supply shocks show that in addition to the often measured direct impact, the indirect multiplier impact that works through the international transmission mechanism plays a crucial role in explaining the impact of oil price swings. The negative effects of a sharp rise in oil prices on oil importers are likely to be offset by the positive impact on oil exporters. Nevertheless, oil exporters may also suffer in the long run.