International Financial Integration Research Articles

Are Determinants of International Financial Integration in the European Transition Countries Different from Post-Transition Countries?

The paper seeks to empirically explore the variations and changes in the degree of International Financial Integration (IFI) between the European Transition countries and Post-Transition countries between 2000 and 2016. The estimation of parameters was made using the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) approach. The findings of the study reveal that European Post-Transition countries have relatively more developed financial systems compared to European Transition countries, where private credit market is still playing an overwhelmingly important role in a financial system while stock markets are in an early stage of development constituting a relatively small share of the financial system. Even though in Panel 3 there are significant control variables, our findings reveal that IFI in European transition countries are affected neither by stock market capitalization and private credit markets. Consequently, they can't be used in this stage of financial development for explanation of variations and changes in the degree of IFI.

Foreign currency borrowing and firm financing constraints in emerging markets: evidence from India

PurposeFirst, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between foreign-currency debt and firms' financing constraints for India, the second-largest emerging market economy after China. Second, this study provides insights into how firms' financing constraints evolve prior to, during and after foreign currency borrowing. Third, it demonstrates the extent to which banks' ownership status and firms' characteristics influence the relationship between foreign currency borrowing and firms' financing constraints.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses detailed balance sheet data for 2,512 nonfinancial listed firms in India for the 1996–2016 period to provide new evidence on the relationship between foreign currency borrowing and firms' financing constraints. This study uses a well-known measure of firms' financing constraints, the sensitivity of investment to internal cash flows (Fazzari et al., 1988, 2000; Hubbard, 1999; Love, 2003).FindingsFinancing constraints tend to be higher for firms with foreign currency debt exposure compared to other firms. Financing constraints are higher prior to new foreign currency borrowing (FCB), but decrease subsequently. Firms that have relationships with privately owned banks or foreign banks have higher financing constraints when undertaking new FCB than those with exclusive relationships with government-owned banks. Financing constraints for firms with FCB are higher during domestic credit booms than other periods. Nonmanufacturing firms and those with lower than median export revenues and higher than median tangible assets experience greater financing constraints compared to other firms when they undertake FCB.Originality/valueThe findings of this study suggest that although firms which borrow in foreign currencies are initially more financially constrained than other firms, the foreign currency borrowing reduces their financing constraints. The findings on how global and domestic macroeconomic conditions and firm-specific characteristics influence the relationship between financing constraints and foreign currency borrowing can provide directions for policy to better leverage the benefits of international financial integration.

Financial spillover and global risk in a multi-region model of the world economy

This paper estimates a three-region DSGE model (EA, US, RoW) with international financial linkages in the form of cross-border equity holding and allowing for region-specific as well as global financial shocks, which match empirical measures of financial tightness and global stock market valuation. Spillover from financial shocks increases with international financial integration and is practically zero under full home bias in normal times. The global risk captures international synchronisation of financial cycles. Spillover of financial shocks is amplified at the zero lower bound, at which investment risk takes on the characteristics of a general uncertainty shock. The model results suggest that integrated financial markets should provide a powerful motivation for international policy coordination to prevent financial turmoil.

Revisiting Feldstein–Horioka Puzzle: Evidence from SAARC Economies

In the macroeconomic perspective, domestic saving and investment constitute two important wheels that keep the growth process moving on towards stability. But when domestic savings tend to fly away to foreign countries for excess returns, the warranted domestic investment remains unattained thereby which impair the growth trend unless the gap is bridged by the foreign investment inflows. However, excess inflows of foreign investments may deteriorate current account balances, if not appropriately absorbed. In this pretext, this article revisited the Feldstein–Horioka puzzle with the twin-deficit hypothesis for SAARC countries. The results lend to support the validity of the twin-deficit hypothesis along with a low degree of association between domestic savings and investment in the region thereby justifying the argument that international capital movements or financial integration have increased in the post-reform era. This observation has significant policy implications for the sustained growth of the SAARC nations.

Selected Factors Governing International Financial Integration – Special Reference to Indian Economy with BRICS

Selected Factors Governing International Financial Integration – Special Reference to Indian Economy with BRICS

Determinants of International Financial Integration in ASEAN-5 Countries: Recent Findings Based on Panel GMM Approach

Determinants of International Financial Integration in ASEAN-5 Countries: Recent Findings Based on Panel GMM Approach

The Role of International Financial Integration in Production and Inflation Fluctuations in Iran: Using a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Model

The Role of International Financial Integration in Production and Inflation Fluctuations in Iran: Using a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Model

Financial integration and macroeconomic volatility in Zimbabwe

PurposeMany developing countries are pursuing policies that foster international financial integration after decades of financial repression. Greater access to foreign financial markets may have both positive and negative impact on the performance of the economy. One of the concerns of international financial integration is macroeconomic volatility which may affect both monetary and real sectors. Zimbabwe has chosen to pursue a financial liberalization strategy in the form of imperfect financial integration following periods of excessive domestic shocks. An upsurge of capital flows since the epic of economic crisis in the 2000s has been observed with varying macroeconomic impacts. This study empirically examines the impact of partial international financial integration on the volatility of macroeconomic variables.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized an ARDL Model suggested by Pesaran et al., (2003) which is appropriate for short time periods.FindingsThe results show that financial integration has a negative effect on output volatility while insignificant on consumption volatility.Practical implicationsThe study recommends that the country should gradually liberalize the capital account and properly sequence financial development reforms in order to minimize losses from global financial integration.Originality/valueThe study used time series for Zimbabwe during a period of external imbalance, repeated economic cycles, sudden stops in capital flows and limited scope of imperfect financial integration. Findings in such an economy will be a referral for policymakers in other economies that would want to pursue international financial integration.

Are Determinants of International Financial Integration in the European Transition Countries Different from Post-Transition Countries?

Abstract The paper seeks to empirically explore the variations and changes in the degree of International Financial Integration (IFI) between the European Transition countries and Post-Transition countries between 2000 and 2016. The estimation of parameters was made using the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) approach. The findings of the study reveal that European Post-Transition countries have relatively more developed financial systems compared to European Transition countries, where private credit market is still playing an overwhelmingly important role in a financial system while stock markets are in an early stage of development constituting a relatively small share of the financial system. Even though in Panel 3 there are significant control variables, our findings reveal that IFI in European transition countries are affected neither by stock market capitalization and private credit markets. Consequently, they can’t be used in this stage of financial development for explanation of variations and changes in the degree of IFI.

International Financial Integration through Depositary Receipts (DRs)

The issue of liquidity and underdevelopment of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stock markets has caused problems to companies in those countries that seek higher equity capital. One way out of this problem is to employ international markets more intensively by seeking cheaper cost of capital through Depositary Receipts (DRs). Many studies on DRs focused on emerging and developed countries, leaving many OIC countries behind. Thus, this study investigates the financial implication by examining the integration of returns of local and foreign stock markets via American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) of OIC countries. Techniques employed in this study are cointegration and the speed of adjustments to examine the existence of integration between the local and foreign stock markets. The study covers a sample of 146 firms from 17 OIC countries that are cross-listed as ADRs or GDRs from 1992 to 2011. The findings show mixed results when some markets provide evidence of integration while others show evidence of segmentation. The study on the integration between DR and home equity markets has practical implications for both the international as well as domestic investors especially on portfolio selection, asset pricing and risk management

Financial integration and total factor productivity: in consideration of different capital controls and foreign direct investment

There is a long debate among policymakers and academicians regarding whether assessments of international financial integration have significant growth benefits and whether such benefits compensate for the accompanied risks. Recent financial crisis has revived this debate. The previous empirical studies have not been able to establish conclusive presumed benefits of financial integration for economic growth. This paper attempts to analyze the financial openness and total factor productivity (TFP) growth nexususing dynamic panel regression models for a substantial sample of countries ranging from year 1970 to 2014. Different measures of financial openness are incorporated in the dataset. We find evidence that financial integration is associated with higher TFP growth. A range of integration measures (both de jure and de facto) shows robust association with financial integration and TFP growth. The result also suggests that financial development might reduce the marginal effects of financial integration on TFP growth. This finding, however, appears to be influenced by the recent global economic turmoil and excessive private finance, especially in recent years.

The Global Financial Resource Curse

Since the late 1990s, the United States has received large capital flows from developing countries - a phenomenon known as the global saving glut - and experienced a productivity growth slowdown. Motivated by these facts, we provide a model connecting international financial integration and global productivity growth. The key feature is that the tradable sector is the engine of growth of the economy. Capital flows from developing countries to the United States boost demand for U.S. non-tradable goods, inducing a reallocation of U.S. economic activity from the tradable sector to the non-tradable one. In turn, lower profits in the tradable sector lead firms to cut back investment in innovation. Since innovation in the United States determines the evolution of the world technological frontier, the result is a drop in global productivity growth. This effect, which we dub the global financial resource curse, can help explain why the global saving glut has been accompanied by subdued investment and growth, in spite of low global interest rates.

Business Cycles, Bilateral Trade and Financial Integration: Evidence From Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

This paper identifies the determinants of synchronization of business cycles in ECOWAS because it allows decision-makers to better target their economic policies. It is relevant given the willingness of ECOWAS heads of state to create a single currency in 2020. Indeed, conducting actions in the direction of the synchronization of business cycles is important because the asymmetries of cycles observed within monetary union determine its sustainability. Unlike previous studies in this area, it is innovative as it takes into account financial linkages. In addition, it proposes new measures to increase the quality of results. Moreover, this paper takes into account the structure of trade by analyzing inter-regional links. Finally, in order to highlight the role of single currency in ECOWAS, it compares West African Economic and Monetary Union and the non-monetary zone within ECOWAS zone. We find that bilateral trade and financial integration are determinants of the synchronization of business cycles in the region. However, we find that regional financial integration channel dominates international financial integration channel. In addition, we find that the weakness of intracommunity trade doesn’t constitute a barrier to monetary union. Finally we find that single currency increases the synchronization of business cycles through bilateral trade.

Energy Price Shocks and Financial Market Integration: Evidence from New Keynesian Model

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of oil price shocks on economic activity. A dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model was applied to verify the role of international financial integration in a New Keynesian model when the oil price shocks hit the economic system. The key findings show that more financial integration tends to dampen the effect of an increase in the oil price than less financial integration. The sensitivity analysis shows that increased elasticity of substitution between oil and domestic goods allows importing countries to reduce their dependence on oil. Financial integration plays an important role in reducing the oil shock effect.

International Financial Integration in the Presence of an International Duopoly

We revisit the debate on the benefits of international financial integration. We build a two-country model with an international duopoly to examine how the liberalization of international capital flows, affects the welfare of each country and their joint welfare. Our results show that international capital flows' liberalization cannot guarantee the improvement in each country's welfare and their joint welfare. Overall, we find that international financial integration has very heterogeneous effects, depending on the market size, the initial level of capital stock and the degree of product competition.

The Global Dimensions of Macroprudential Policy

This report elucidates the risk channels for EU economies associated with international financial integration and provides an overview of the macroprudential policy options that are available to address these risks.1 It builds on the main insights from the rich academic literature developed recently to create a narrative of the role of global variables for the conduct of macroprudential policy at a national level. The report reviews the evidence on the cross-border spillovers of domestic macroprudential policies (MPPs). It also highlights key policy areas for making macroprudential policy as effective as possible. Annex 1 presents findings from several new research papers across the European System of Central Banks.

A Welfare‐Based Analysis of International Monetary Policy Spillovers at the Zero Lower Bound

AbstractWe study the welfare effects of international monetary policy spillovers at the zero lower bound, focusing on the effects of forward guidance in a large economy (“foreign”) on its smaller trading partner (“home”) in scenarios motivated by the global financial crisis. We find that foreign forward guidance has an overall prosper‐thy‐neighbor effect on the home economy as long as it increases foreign welfare. This finding holds under alternative assumptions about exchange rate pass‐through or the degree of international financial integration. However, foreign forward guidance may worsen the trade‐off between the stabilization objectives of home monetary policy.

Modelling volatility spillovers from the US equity market to ASEAN stock markets

An important aspect of increased international financial integration is the associated increase in volatility spillover. Analyzing volatility spillovers from advanced economies to emerging economies is clearly important for portfolio investment and risk management. This paper investigates volatility spillovers from the US equity market to stock markets of ASEAN economies. We use the augmented EGARCH model with the ICSS algorithm to control for the excessive volatility break over an extended period. We document a significant volatility spillover from the US to ASEAN equity markets and this finding is vital to investors. The paper has strong practical importance because an accurate prediction of volatility spillovers in international equity markets is crucial for mitigating portfolio risk.

An exorbitant privilege in the first age of international financial integration?

Whether the United Kingdom enjoyed an exorbitant privilege over the period 1871–1914 is analysed with a new dataset. The use of microdata on financial securities sheds light on some issues arising from US studies. A monthly proxy for the British international investment position and estimates of returns are constructed, pointing to an average benefit of 8.3% of GDP, with high variation. The finding supports the claim that exorbitant privilege is partly a general characteristic of the issuer of the global reserve currency. Nonetheless, there are fundamental differences between the two countries: Britain “grossed up” small returns by a large positive position.

International Financial Integration and Crisis Contagion

AbstractInternational financial integration helps to diversify risk but also may spread crises across countries. We provide a quantitative analysis of this trade-off in a two-country general equilibrium model with collateral-constrained borrowing using a global solution method. Borrowing constraints bind occasionally, depending upon the state of the economy and levels of inherited debt. We examine different degrees of international financial integration, moving from financial autarky, to bond and equity market integration. Financial integration leads to a significant increase in global leverage, substantially escalates the probability of crises for any one country, and dramatically increases the degree of “contagion” across countries. Outside of crises, the impact of financial integration on macroeconomic aggregates is relatively small. But the impact of a crisis with integrated international financial markets is much less severe than that under financial market autarky. Thus, a trade-off emerges between the probability of crises and the severity of crises. Using a large cross-country database of financial crises in developing and developed economies over a forty-year period, we find evidence in support of the model.