The Effect of Exchange Rate on Exports and Imports: The Case of Jordan

Abstract

This article aims at exploring the effect of exchange rate on exports and imports in Jordan over the 1976–2009 period. In addition, it tests if Jordan's workers’ remittances create an effect, equivalent to “the Dutch disease effect,” on Jordan's exports competitiveness, and it computes Marshall-Lerner condition to check the foreign exchange market stability. We employ the bounds testing approach to cointegration and the error correction model. We find that Jordan's competitiveness has a trend of deterioration. The influence of Jordan's exchange rate on exports and imports is active in the short-run only. Additionally, Jordan's workers’ remittances have an impact similar to “the Dutch disease effect” via increasing the cost of living, thus reducing exports competitiveness. Also, Marshall-Lerner condition is less than one; the foreign exchange market will be unstable if exchange rate policy devaluation is adopted. The policy implication of the article is against adopting a devaluation policy in Jordan.