The Theory of Purchasing Power Parity in MENA Countries: The Quantile Unit Root Test

Abstract

This paper examines the theory of purchasing power parity aboutthe exchange rate of the dollar with local currencies in MENAcountries - the Middle East and North Africa - using a unit root testestablished on the quantile auto regressive model during the period1980-2017. This test, like other unit root tests, uses auto regressivemodel, unlike other methods that emphasize the mean of thedependent variable, this test employees different variables orquantiles for estimating the regression. If the theory of purchasingpower parity is in place, the real exchange rate will be stationary.According to the results of quantile unit root test, the real exchangerate for dollar in all countries except the four countries ofMorocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan has a unit root and isnot stationary. Therefore, except for the four countries mentioned,the theory of purchasing power parity is not true in other studiedcountries. This result could be due to the difference inmacroeconomic conditions and less flexibility of the foreignexchange system in these countries compared to developedcountries.