The Impact of Monetary Policy on the Exchange Rate: A High Frequency Exchange Rate Puzzle in Emerging Economies

Abstract

This study investigates the impact effect of monetary policy shocks on the exchange rates of Brazil, Mexico and Chile. We find that even a focus on 1 day exchange rate changes following policy events -- which reduces the potential for reverse causality considerably -- fails to lend support for the conventional view that associates unexpected interest rate hikes with appreciations. This lack of empirical backing for the predictions of standard open economy models persists irrespective of whether we use the US Dollar or effective exchange rates, whether interest rate changes are anticipated or not, whether changes in the policy rate that were followed by exchange rate intervention are excluded or whether "contaminated" events are dropped from the analysis. We argue that it is difficult to attribute this stronger version of the exchange rate puzzle to fiscal dominance, as unexpected rate increases are not associated with increases in risk premia, and similar results are obtained in the case of Chile -- a country that has had the highest possible short-term credit rating since 1997 and a debt/GDP ratio below 10%. The weakness of the interest -- exchange rate link has important implications for optimal monetary policy in emerging economies.