Exogenous shocks and exchange rate regimes

Using a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model with nominal price rigidity and imperfect competition, we examine the impact of terms-of-trade and foreign interest rate shocks on some key macroeconomic variables for a small open economy under different exchange rate regimes. Numerical solutions from the model are found consistent with empirical panel VAR results of 33 Asian economies for the period of 1980-2009. From both the theoretical model and empirical evidence, we find that (i) output responses to terms-of-trade and foreign interest rate shocks are smoother in floats, (ii) price responses to terms-of-trade shocks are smoother in floats than in pegs, while its responses to foreign interest shocks are more volatile in floats than in pegs, and (iii) the effects of terms-of-trade and foreign interest shocks are more prolonged under floats