The role of elasticity optimism in choosing an optimal currency basket with applications to Israel

M. June Flanders*, Asher Tishler

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In a world in which exchange rates are floating each country must have some device for measuring the average exchange rate change, whatever exchange rate policy it chooses. The weight for each currency in computing such an average depends on the objective which exchange rate stabilization, or change, is expected to achieve. If balance of trade stability is the desideratum, the optimum weights (optimum currency basket) are shown to be a function of demand elasticities, GNP, trade shares, etc. We derive a loss function measuring the cost of using a 'wrong' basket, and compute the value of this function for our 'optimal' Israeli basket as a case study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)395-406
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of International Economics
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1981

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