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Exchange Rate and Inflation Dynamics in a Resource Rich Setting: The Case of Zambia

Roger, Lionel; Smith, Gregory; Morrissey, Oliver

Authors

Lionel Roger

Gregory Smith

OLIVER MORRISSEY OLIVER.MORRISSEY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Development Economics



Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between copper prices, the exchange rate and consumer price inflation in Zambia using a structural vector autoregression with quarterly data for 1995–2014 and a combination of sign and zero restrictions to identify relevant global and domestic shocks. The paper makes two contributions. First, it provides new measures of exchange rate pass through (ERPT), based on less restrictive assumptions than previous estimates, to show how changes in the value of the kwacha are reflected in changes in consumer prices (distinguishing food and non‐food inflation). Second, the ERPT is disaggregated to demonstrate that measured ERPT depends on the nature of the shock, with implications for policy responses. Although the price of copper is the most important driver of the exchange rate, the fluctuations it caused are associated with a low pass‐through of about 7% (consistent with a period of relatively low inflation). Exchange rate fluctuations caused by monetary shocks, in contrast, come with a pass‐through of up to 25% (and even more for food prices). A fast response by monetary authorities can mitigate the adverse effects of exchange rate shocks.

Citation

Roger, L., Smith, G., & Morrissey, O. (2019). Exchange Rate and Inflation Dynamics in a Resource Rich Setting: The Case of Zambia. South African Journal of Economics, 87(4), 490-514. https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12236

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 18, 2019
Online Publication Date Oct 17, 2019
Publication Date 2019-12
Deposit Date Sep 6, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal South African Journal of Economics
Print ISSN 0038-2280
Electronic ISSN 1813-6982
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 87
Issue 4
Pages 490-514
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12236
Keywords Copper Prices; Exchange Rate Pass Through; Zambia
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2579453
Publisher URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/saje.12236
Additional Information This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Roger, L., Smith, G. and Morrissey, O. (2019), Exchange Rate and Inflation Dynamics in a Resource Rich Setting: The Case of Zambia. South African Journal of Economics, 87: 490-514. doi:10.1111/saje.12236which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12236. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.

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