Testing for nominal convergence in the Central American area: evidence from panel data unit-root tests

Abstract

Inflation convergence between the Central American Area and the United States is investigated using both recent homogeneous and heterogeneous panel data unit-root methods. Strong rejections of unit-root hypothesis are found, and therefore evidence of Purchasing Power Parity, in the Central American countries for the 1981:1–2005:4 period. Then by considering the nominal convergence criterion, the dollarization system seems to be suited to this region.