Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
BY
UDOYE, RITA A.
PG/M.Sc/ 07/43765
NOVEMBER, 2009.
i
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
BY
UDOYE, RITA A.
PG/ M.Sc/ 07/ 43765
__________________ _____________________
Prof. C.C Agu Prof. C.C Agu
Supervisor Head of Department
____________________
External Examiner
iii
DEDICATION.
This work is dedicated to God Almighty for His infinite mercies upon me. I also
dedicate this work to my husband, Mr L.O Udoye and to my children – Onyii,
Nelo, Chukwudi, Chibuzo, Nnemeka and Ogoo. May the blessings of the Lord
continue to abide with you all.
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am also greatly indebted to my brothers and sisters - Mary, Cordy, Vitus, Emeka
and my nephew - Tochukwu and many others. May God bless you all in Jesus
name, Amen.
Udoye, R.A.
U.N.N.
v
ABSTRACT
The study examines the determinants of real exchange rate in the recent years in
Nigeria over the period of 1970 to 2006 using the Nigerian time series data.
Following literature, we identified the potential determinants of real exchange rate
as lag of real exchange rate, real interest rate, inflation rate, trade openness and
real gross domestic product. After examined the time series characteristics of the
data with Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit roots test of stationarity and
Engle-Granger procedure for co-integration test, we applied Auto-regressive
Distributed Lag Model (ARDL-ECM). The result suggests that one year past value
of real exchange rate and immediate past value of trade openness are the major
determinants of real exchange rate in Nigeria. The result further indicates that
there is evidence of long run relationship between real exchange rate and two
explanatory variables (gross domestic product growth rate and trade openness).
vi
TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE ii
APPROVAL PAGE iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v
ABSTRACT vi
TABLE OF CONTENT vii
LIST OF TABLES ix
LIST OF TABLES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Traditionally, it has been argued that a country’s optimal real exchange rate is
determined by some key macroeconomic variables and that the long-run value of
the optimal real exchange rate is determined by suitable (permanent) values of
these macroeconomic variables (Williamson, 1994). Incidentally, since the fall of
Bretton-Woods system in 1970s and the subsequent introduction of floating
2
exchange rates, the exchange rates have in some cases become extremely volatile
without any corresponding link to changes in the macroeconomic fundamentals.
This however has led to higher interest in exchange rate modeling as the question
of exchange rate determination reveals to be one of the most important problems
on theoretical field of monetary macroeconomics.
There are different types of exchange rate regimes practiced all over the world;
from the extreme case of fixed exchange rate system to a freely floating regime.
Practically, countries tend to adopt a combination of different regimes such as
adjustable peg, crawling peg, target zone/crawling bands, and managed float,
whichever that suits their peculiar economic conditions. For instance, exchange
rate managements in Nigeria has witness different significant changes over the past
four decades. Nigeria maintained fixed exchange rates from 1960 till the
breakdown of the Bretton Woods Monetary System in the early 1970s. Between
1970 and mid 1980 Nigeria exchange rate policy shifted from fixed exchange rate
to a pegged arrangement and finally, to the various types of the floating regime
since 1986 following the adoption of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP)
(see Sanusi, 2004).
production, balance of payments position and the nation’s external reserves level.
Moreover, the period was bedeviled by sharp practices perpetrated by dealers and
end-users of foreign exchange. These and many other problems informed the
adoption of a more flexible exchange rate regime in the context of the SAP,
adopted in 1986 (Sanusi, 1988).
Optimal exchange rate policy is designed to obtain real exchange rate (RER) that
maintains both internal and external balance (Agu, 2002). The concept of real
exchange rate comes from a realization that the observable nominal exchange rate
movements, result from both price changes and inflation rate changes in trading
economies. When the real exchange rate is optimal, domestic producers of tradable
goods can compete internationally; imports are not artificially cheaper than
comparable domestic alternatives. Exporters also are not disadvantaged by the
exchange rate, when the real exchange rate is right (Maciejewski, 1983). What
determines the exchange rate regime for an open economy is one of the oldest
issues in international economics. The single most influential idea in this context
4
has been the Mundellian prescription that if shocks facing the country are mostly
monetary then fixed exchange rates are optimal whereas flexible rates are optimal
if the shocks are mostly real (Amartya et al.2004). The key friction underlying
Mundell’s results was the assumption of sticky prices in the goods market. Since
the fall of Bretton-Woods system in 1970s and the subsequent introduction of
floating exchange rates, the exchange rates have in some cases become extremely
volatile without any corresponding link to changes in other macroeconomic
variables. Nigeria’s exchange rate changes have been a subject of debate among
policy makers, concerned monetary authorities and academics because of the
recognition of the vital role exchange rate regime plays in the achievement of
sustainable growth. Government and monetary authorities in Nigeria, over the
years have done a lot of work in the area of finding the appropriate exchange rate
management, given the peculiarities of the economy. Since the adoption of the
Structural Adjustment Programme in 1986, Nigeria has adopted different types of
exchange rate regimes, ranging from floating exchange rate regimes to
fixed/pegged regimes.
However, maintaining a realistic exchange rate for the naira in Nigeria is very
crucial, given the structure of the economy. Sanusi (2004) opined the importance
of maintaining a realistic exchange rate for naira, and also the need to minimize
distortions in production and consumption, increase the inflow of non-oil export
receipts and attract foreign direct investment. This is expected to ensure that the
naira is not overvalued in real terms, and that the external sector remains
competitive. Nigeria in 1960 and in the early 1970s, maintained fixed exchange
rates. Between 1970 and mid 1980 Nigeria exchange rate shifted from fixed
exchange rate to a pegged arrangement and since the introduction of Structural
Adjustment Programme in 1986 till date Nigeria has adopted various types of
5
floating exchange regime (Sanusi 2004). The quest for a realistic naira exchange
rate made the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the time past to employ the
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) model as a guide to gauge movements in the
nominal exchange rate and to determine deviations from the equilibrium exchange
rate. Although the PPP as a relative price does not provide clear criteria for
choosing a base period, and is generally criticized for its insensitivity to short-term
policy actions, it nonetheless, provides a reasonable framework for a comparative
analysis of trading partners’ performances. Nigeria, having adopted various types
of exchange rate mechanism over the years with Dutch Auction System (DAS)
being the latest and still the exchange rate did not maintain both internal and
external balance. Thus, the ultimate questions which this research seeks to answer
are: what determines exchange rate in Nigeria? Again, is there any long run
relationship between the exchange rate and its identified determinants in Nigeria?
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
variables interact to determine the exchange rate. The variables are: relative
income and interest rate differential. This is justified since foreign demand for
domestic goods is a function of foreign income and vice versa, and also asset
demand depends on the difference between domestic and foreign interest rates.
the exchange. Obioma (2000) holds the view that asset market or monetary
approach attributes variation in exchange rate essentially to income and expected
rates of return as well as to other factors that influence the supplies of and demands
for the various national monies. Thus, based on the fact that supply and demand for
monies is determined by the level of income, the monetary model postulates three
basic determinants of exchange rate as follows: relative money supplies, relative
income and interest rate differentials.
The options available to countries for adopting a particular exchange rate regimes
range from floating arrangements at one extreme to firmly fixed arrangements at
the other extreme, with the remaining regimes falling on a continuum in between.
These include pegs, target zones, and fixed but adjustable rates. As exchange rate
management have a defining goal of exchange rate stability, the fixed exchange
rate regime and its variants are more relevant. A fixed exchange rate system is one
in which exchange rates are maintained at fixed levels. Each country has its
currency fixed against another currency, and it is seldom changed. For example,
Nigeria maintained fixed exchange rates from the time of attainment of political
independence in 1960 till the breakdown of the Bretton Woods Monetary System
in the early 1970s. There are two major reasons why fixed exchange rates are
appealing. They are to promote orderliness in foreign exchange markets and
certainty in international transactions. Some of the variants of fixed exchange rates
are as follows:
Under the crawling peg, the government fixes the exchange rate on any day but
over time adjusts the rate in a pre-announced fashion, taking into consideration the
inflation differentials between it and its major trading partners. Essentially, the peg
can be either passive, meaning that the exchange rate is altered in light of past
inflation, or active, whereby the country announces in advance the exchange rate
adjustments it intends to make. The advantage of this peg is that it combines the
flexibility needed to accommodate different trends in inflation rates between
countries while maintaining relative certainty about future exchange rates relevant
to exporters and importers. The disadvantage is that the crawling peg leaves the
currency open to speculative attack because the government is committed on any
one day or over a period to a particular value of the exchange rate.
This refers to the system in which a national currency is pegged to a key currency,
for example, the U.S dollar, but the level of the peg could be changed occasionally,
albeit within a narrow band. This exchange rate regime features a strong exchange
rate commitment, and its adherents before the currency crises of the mid- and late
1990s, included Brazil, Mexico and Thailand. In these emerging market
economies, where capital mobility increased steadily during the 1970s and 1980s
and up to a high point in the 1990s, the authorities had difficulties in maintaining
the peg (Corden, 2001). However, it is still workable for countries that have low
capital mobility either because they are not integrated with the capital markets (like
some very poor countries) or because they have effective capital controls (e.g.
China).
12
This is a compromise between floating rates and fixed but adjustable rates and is a
popular regime. Under it, a central rate that can be fixed, crawling or flexible is
surrounded by a band within which the central rate is permitted to float. It allows
for flexibility among a country’s policy objectives. It is also said to prevent
extreme movements in the exchange rate.
In an attempt to stabilize its effective exchange rate the developing country may
peg its currency to a basket of currencies. Often this entails the weighted average
of several currency values, the resulting exchange rate being total trade-weighted,
export weighted or import-weighted. One major advantage of pegging to a basket
is that a country may be able to avoid large fluctuations in its exchange rate with
respect to several trading partners’ currencies. Consequently, it is able to stabilize
13
its nominal effective exchange rate. Another advantage is that the system results in
the reduction of price instability which arises from exchange rate changes.
However, one major disadvantage of the basket peg is the determination of the
exchange rate without reference to the domestic policies of the pegging authorities.
Another is that a basket-weighted exchange rate, which, by definition, moves
against all major currencies, might reduce confidence on the part of foreign
investors and reduce capital inflows.
Exchange rate policy involves choosing an exchange rate system and determining
the particular rate at which foreign transaction will take place. Exchange rate
policy affects growth by determining capital flow, foreign investment and external
balance for most developing countries. The inadequacy of foreign exchange
constitutes a bottle neck in the process of development. In the course of
development, the rate of growth of national output and the demand for imports
tend to exceed export based capacity. Therefore, there is a conflict between
accelerating internal development and maintaining external balance. This conflict
14
The basic element of efficient exchange rate system is the assumption that
exchange rate reflects the relative productivity of an economy (Obadan, 2003). In
the long-term, the devalued Naira protects domestic industries, encourages
domestic production, reduction in the cost of imported raw materials and makes
domestically produced goods competitive.
Meese, and Rogoff (1990) maintains that the floating exchange rate was adopted in
developing countries from 1973 and the question of whether exchange rate
changes/uncertainties have independent adverse effect on transaction of a country
have attracted a lot of literature. According to them, the introduction of adjustment
programmes by many of these countries and the attendant liberalization of
exchange rates have brought the discussion of this work further into global focus.
Taylor, (1995) in his work stated quite categorically what became known as
purchasing power parity theory that the value of a foreign currency in terms of
another depends mainly on the relative purchasing power of the two currencies in
their respective countries. In other words, the exchange rates settles at the level
which make purchasing power of a given unit of currency the same in what ever
country it is spent. He argues further that the theory fails in some areas like a
16
change in the exchange rate may originate in factor independent of price level.
Therefore the purchasing power parity is not a complete explanation of what
determines exchange rate but this does not mean that the theory has no value.
system. Here in, the naira exchange rate could be changed only in response to a
prolonged disequilibrium.
The Nigeria pound has its parity defined in June 1962 in terms of gold at one
Nigerian pound to 2.48828 grams for fine gold. From that time to August 14, 1971,
the exchange rate of the Nigerian pound of the use dollar was determined by its
gold parity. The Naira replaced the pound as Nigerian currency in 1973, and its par
value was set at half that of the pound. Hence the exchange rate against the dollar
became US $ 1.52 to the Naira. Within a month of this the US dollar was
devalued by 10 percent and Nigeria suit with a 10 percent matching devaluation,
thereby maintaining the existing Naira-dollar rate. During most of 1973, the
anchor currencies, the dollar and sterling weakened considerably, sustained
weakness brought into sharp focus the dilemma, inherent in the method of
determining the exchange rate of the Nigerian currency.
However, in September, 1986, the Second Tier Foreign Exchange market (SFEM)
began as a dual exchange rate system which produced the official first tier rate and
the SFEM or free market rate. The former was administratively determined and
gradually depreciated. It applied to a few official international organizations the
free market rate which applied to other transactions. The free market rate which
applied to other transactions was determined by the market forces of demand
supply within the framework of a foreign exchange auction system. The essence
of the dual exchange rate system was to avoid a deliberate uniform and sizeable
devaluation of the Naira but to allow it to depreciate in the SFEM while at the
same time the monetary authorities continued a downward adjustment of the first
tier rate until the two rates converge to produce a realistic exchange rate.
18
This convergence which Ojamenaye (1991) has described was achieved on July 2,
1987 at an exchange rate of N3.74: $1.00. With this development, the first tier
market was abolished and unified foreign exchange market (FEM) with a single
rate that came into being. The FEM also embraced the autonomous market, which
was allowed to develop. The autonomous segment of the FEM was expected to be
competitive with the parallel foreign exchange market and thus be attractive to
exporters to repatriate their proceeds.
The introduction of the autonomous market led to the existence of three exchange
rates - FEM, rate autonomous and the parallel market rate which failed to show any
tendency toward convergence. And as Akinmoladun (1990) has argued the merger
of the first tier rate and the SFEM rate was more technical than real as shortly after
the gap between the auction rate and those of the autonomous market rates began
to grow at one point, there was more than 50 percent differential between the two
rates and this became a source of concern for the monetary authorities. The price
differential had the effect of making the auction funds sort of subsidized.
The operations of the autonomous market later became destabilizing arising from
the tendency towards high arbitrage premium and accusations of authorized dealers
of diverting official funds making substantial gains effortlessly (Ojo, 1991). Other
malpractices also developed as the market officials or authorized dealers were
accused of corruption and allocation of foreign exchange to favored customers.
In the light of these, the autonomous market was merged with the official segment
in January 1989 and the Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM) was
introduced. The IFEM entailed a daily bidding system under which the central
Bank injected official funds into the market by way of direct sales to the banks as
and when funds were available. Various but specific methods were used (single or
19
The system continued throughout 1991. It may be recalled that the Dutch auction
system was first introduced in 1988, but was later replaced by IFEM. The DAS
was originally introduced to enhance professionalism in the FEM and prevent
outrageous rate which invariably led to the continued depreciation of the naira.
The system did not achieve this goal. For example, the naira showed heavier
deprivation in 1991 compared to the relative stability of the exchange rate in 1990
(Obadan, 1992). The exchange rate management system appeared to have been
predicated on various methods that are yet to achieve the desired goal. Not only
has there been a metamorphosis of the institutional framework from SFEM to FEM
to IFEM, there have been frequent changes in the operational guidelines. Besides
the Dutch Auction System, the market has experimented among which various
techniques and operational procedures among which are the average and marginal
exchange rate determination or fixed methods, the weekly, fortnight and daily
bidding system.
In January 1999, Nigeria’s dual exchange rate regime was abandoned as the
official N22 to a dollar exchange rate was scrapped. Prior to then, the official rate
co-existed with the rates on the Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (AFEM)
and was used for selected government transactions including external debt service.
From then, the prevailing rate on the AFEM applied to all foreign exchange
transactions. The elimination of the dual exchange rate system introduced
uniformity of price in foreign exchange transactions and eliminated the arbitrage
20
Shehu and Aliyu (2006) estimate the long run behavioral equilibrium exchange
rate in Nigeria. They used quarterly data from 1984Q1 to 2004Q4 and derive a
Behavioral Equilibrium Exchange Rate (BEER) and a Permanent Equilibrium
Exchange Rate (PEER). Regression results show that most of the long-run
behavior of the real exchange rate could be explained by real net foreign assets,
terms of trade, index of crude oil volatility, index of monetary policy performance
and government fiscal stance. On the basis of these fundamentals, four episodes
each of overvaluation and undervaluation were identified and the antecedents
characterizing the episodes were equally traced to the archive of exchange rate
management in the country within the review period. Among others for instance,
large inflow of oil revenues into the country and stable macroeconomic
performance were discovered to account for undervaluation of the real exchange
rate between 2001Q1 and 2004Q4 in Nigeria. The results further suggest that
deviations from the equilibrium path are eliminated within one to two years.
Agnès and Coeuré (2001), in their paper “The Survival of Intermediate Exchange
Rate Regimes show how the traditional trade off between stabilization and
22
disinflation can produce soft pegs as optimal exchange rate regimes even when
financial fragility and the cost of regime switches in terms of credibility are taken
into account. The optimal degree of exchange rate flexibility depends on the
structural characteristics of the country and on the preferences of monetary
authorities. The finding is confirmed by cross-section logit estimation for 92
countries before and after the 1997-1998 emerging markets crises, relating
exchange rate regime choice with the countries structural patterns. The model
correctly predicts up to 86% of observed regimes and some of the recent moves
towards hard pegs.
Devereux and Engel (1988) directly examine how price setting affects the optimal
choice of exchange rate regime. They find that when prices are set in consumers’
currency, floating exchange rates always dominate fixed exchange rates. When
prices are set in producers’ currency, there is a trade-off between floating and fixed
exchange rates. Exchange rate adjustment under floating rates allows for a lower
variance of consumption, but exchange rate volatility itself leads to a lower
average level of consumption. The implication from the simple analysis of their
study indicates that, if the exchange rates is volatile, fixing exchange rates to both
US dollar and Japanese Yen is better than floating, because both US and Japanese
exporters set the price in producers’ currency.
Again, Devereux and Engel (2000) investigate the choice of exchange-rate regime
– fixed or floating in a dynamic, intertemporal general equilibrium framework.
They used an extended Devereux and Engel (1998) framework to investigating the
implications of internationalized production. They examine the role of price setting
– whether prices are set in the currency of producers or the currency of consumers
– in determining the optimality of exchange-rate regimes in an environment of
23
uncertainty created by monetary shocks. They find that when prices are set in
producers’ currencies, floating exchange rates are preferred when the country is
large enough, or not too risk averse. On the other hand, floating exchange rates are
always preferred when prices are set in consumers’ currencies because floating
exchange rates allow domestic consumption to be insulated from foreign monetary
shocks. The gains from floating exchange rates are greater when there is
internationalized production in this case.
Amartya et al (2004) revisits the issue of the optimal exchange rate regime in a
flexible price environment. The key innovation is that he analyze the question in
the context of environments where only a fraction of agents participate in asset
market transactions (i.e., asset markets are segmented). He shows that flexible
exchange rates are optimal under monetary shocks and fixed exchange rates are
optimal under real shocks. These findings are the exact opposite of the standard
24
Mundellian prescription derived under the sticky price paradigm wherein fixed
exchange rates are optimal if monetary shocks dominate while flexible rates are
optimal if shocks are mostly real. This result thus suggests that the optimal
exchange rate regime should depend not only on the type of shock (monetary
versus real) but also on the type of friction (goods market friction versus financial
market friction).
Chuka, (1990) show in its study of optimal exchange rate determination that there
is no such thing as '
'
the'
'optimal or best exchange rate policy. It all depends on the
underlying fundamentals, which may be both domestic and external, as well as
perceptions of policy credibility. How countries react to them will not be the same
at all. Floating the currency would, of course, be deemed to be better than the other
approaches but questions need to be answered as to, among others, whether the
country has sufficient reserves to intervene in the market at all times when it is
necessary. In the case of Malawi, this has proved to be very difficult since the
availability of foreign exchange is highly seasonal. He concludes that Malawi also
faces another problem in that public confidence in the floating regime is taking
rather long to stabilize with the consequence that the kwacha is constantly under
speculative attacks.
Kildegaard (2005) examines the role of structural factors in Mexican real exchange
rate experience since 1970, particularly in the crisis of December, 1994. He finds
that fundamental determinants of the real exchange-omitted from previous research
are co integrated with nominal exchange rates and relative prices, while tests of
PPP alone fail. The co integrating equation indicates a severe undervaluation
during the 1980s and only modest overvaluation in the period immediately
preceding the devaluation in December, 1994. The author concludes that nothing in
25
the fundamentals can account for magnitude of the blow Mexico suffered at that
time.
El-Mefleh (2004) investigates the proper exchange rate system that serves main
macroeconomic goals within increasing integrated global financial markets. The
major findings of the study are that (1) It is unrealistic to assume that one exchange
rate regime is the best for all circumstances and for all countries; (2) The choice of
pegging the currency to another currency or a basket of currencies depends on the
degree of trade concentration with another country (country B) and the currency in
which the country’s (country A) foreign debt is mostly denominated; and (3) The
managed float or free float system is more realistic for a country highly integrated
into global financial markets.
Barnett and Kwag (2005) incorporate aggregation and index number theory into
monetary models of exchange rate determination in a manner that is internally
consistent with money market equilibrium. Divisia monetary aggregates and user-
cost are concepts used for money supply and opportunity-cost variables in the
monetary models. They estimate a flexible price monetary model, a sticky price
monetary model, and the Hooper and Morton (1982) model for the US dollar/UK
pound exchange rate. They compare forecast results using mean square error,
direction of change, and Diebold-Mariano statistics. They find that models with
Divisia indexes are better than the random walk assumption in explaining the
exchange rate fluctuations.
Leo (2006) explores the welfare implications of a small country’s exchange rate
regime, for the small country itself, as well as for a large country, the currency of
which the small country potentially pegs to. A two-country dynamic stochastic
26
general equilibrium model is developed for the analysis. Floating exchange rate
regimes was modeled as Taylor type interest rate rules, with different feedback
coefficients on inflation and output. He shows that compared to a fixed exchange
rate regime, both countries will be worse off if the small country adopts an interest
rate rule with a large feedback coefficient on output and a small feedback
coefficient on inflation. He also shows that it is important for the small country not
to respond to output fluctuations in its interest rate rule, as it will generate costly
fluctuations of inflation.
Batini and Levine (2006), in their study of Optimal Exchange Rate Stabilization in
a Dollarized Economy with Inflation Targets shows that First, dollarization
complicates the conduct of monetary policy; however monetary policy can still be
carried out successfully and with low costs in terms of real activity under
dollarization if the central bank commits to an inflation target. Thus, introducing
an inflation target in partially dollarized economies can reduce the cost of price
stabilization. Second, even if the degree of dollarization depends endogenously on
the response of monetary policy from the exchange rate, it is still desirable to
‘smooth’ the exchange rate, in addition to correcting deviations of expected
inflation from target. In this sense, an optimal simple rule for a partially dollarized
is different from that of a non-dollarized economy, in that in the former economy
there are substantial gains from including an exchange rate term in the rule,
contrary to common findings on similar rules for non dollarized economies.
Abstracting from the many other adverse consequences of dollarization, the
findings show that countries with no credibility may benefit from partial
dollarization in that it constrains monetary policy to be conservative. Third,
exchange rate smoothing reduces the chances of multiple equilibria under
dollarization.
27
Faia, (2005) study the optimal choice of exchange rate regimes in a two country
model with sticky prices and matching frictions in the labour market. Currency
fluctuations by affecting the price of tradable goods tend to exacerbate movements
in and out of the labour market and the volatility of vacancy creation which in turn
tend to increase overall macroeconomic volatility. For this reason and despite the
well-known insulating properties of currency fluctuations the monetary authority
(Faia, 2005) can accomplish domestic stabilization and increase welfare by having
exchange rate as an independent target in the monetary policy rule. The study also
shows that the model presented is compatible with well-known stylized facts of
both the international transmission of shocks (such as positive co-movements of
output and employment) and of the labour market (such as the Beveridge curve,
the procyclicality of labour market tightness and the high volatility of labour
market variables).
Bruno and Pugh (2006) studied the trade effects of exchange rate variability on
international economies for the past 30 years. The study applies meta-regression
28
analysis (MRA). They find that, on average, exchange rate variability exerts a
negative effect on international trade. In addition, MRA helps to explain the wide
variation of results in this literature ranging from significantly positive to
significantly negative effects and suggests new lines of enquiry. In particular, their
results suggest a regime effect, whereby the trade effect of exchange rate
variability is conditioned by the institutional environment.
Kandil (2004) examines the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on real output
growth and price inflation in a sample of twenty-two developing countries. The
analysis introduces a theoretical rational expectation model that decomposes
movements in the exchange rate into anticipated and unanticipated components.
The model demonstrates the effects of demand and supply channels on the output
and price responses to changes in the exchange rate. In general, exchange rate
depreciation, both anticipated and unanticipated, decreases real output growth and
increases price inflation. The evidence confirms concerns about the negative
effects of currency depreciation on economic performance in developing countries.
Second, majority of the studies were done outside the shore of this country. This
led us to venture into the research.
29
Third, majority of the studies on the determinant of exchange rate did not consider
the possibility of long run relationship between exchange rate and their
macroeconomic variables (determinants), although, Shehu and Aliyu (2006)
estimate the long run behavioral equilibrium exchange rate in Nigeria using
quarterly data from 1984Q1 to 2004Q4. Suffice it to say that this period is too
short to access the long run behaviour of exchange rate and its macroeconomic
variables since most time series econometricians suggest the minimum of 25 years
observation for time series data.
10
-10
-20
-30
Rates %
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
1975 1980 1990 1991- 1999 2003 2004 2006
1998
Period
Rates %
30
20
10
0
-10 1975 1980 1990 1991- 1999 2003 2004 2006
1998
-20
Rates %
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
Period
Rates %
Between year 1975 and 2006, we observed different movement in the exchange
rate in Nigeria. This movement has been either appreciation or depreciation. As at
1975, the exchange rate appreciates by 2.28%, it further appreciates by 9.04% in
1980. By 1990 it depreciate by -8.04, and between 1990 and 1998, it depreciates
by -10.3%. By 1999 it depreciates by -76.39, the year 2003 and 2004 further
witness deprecation of -6.48 and -3.1 respectively. However, it appreciates by
2.65% in the year 2006.
31
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 The model
The study will follow a simple linear specification of the multivariate time series
function using the partial adjustment approach to estimating given parameters of a
model. In so doing, Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ADLM) shall be used.
This is because past value of exchange is likely to determine the present value and
also the relationship between exchange rate and macroeconomic fundamentals that
determine it are likely to be dynamic in nature. That is, these determinants may
transmit beyond the present period. Consequently, The ADLM model will allow
the joint estimation of relationships between exchange rate and the
macroeconomics variables. Furthermore, there may be the need for us to transform
the model into an Autoregressive Distributed Lag Error Correction (ADL-ECM)
Model if at any point in time; there is evidence of co-integration among the
variables. The ECM will help to capture both the long run and the short run
dynamics of exchange rate and macroeconomics variables (See Engle and Granger,
1987).
Dependent variable response to the set of the explanatory variables in the above
model may not be automatic, in other words, it is rarely instantaneous. Sometime
the dependent variable responds to the explanatory variables with a lapse of time
(Gujarati, 2004). Hence, equation (2) transform into a dynamic model as follow:
Where t-i = the lag length. We shall use Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) to
determine the optimal lag length of the model. This method has gain prominence
recognition among econometricians. There may be possibility of the model
processing nuisance lag length after applying the AIC. If that occurs, we shall
introduce Granger–marginalization procedure so as drop the redundant lag(s). This
will make our model to parsimonious.
3.3 Estimation procedure
We shall apply the Ordinary Least Square method to estimate the relevance
equations. The OLS method has been used in a wide range of economic
33
where
0 is a constant, t is the coefficient on a time trend and p is lag order of the
autoregressive process and is difference operator. The unit root test is then
carried out under the null hypothesis = 0 against the alternative hypothesis of <
0. If the test statistic is greater (in absolute value) than the critical value let say at
34
Hence, the model in equation (6) is the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Error
Correction Model (ADLECM) we hope to estimate if there is evidence co-
integration among the variables. On the contrary, if there is no co integration
35
among the variables we shall estimate the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model
specified in equation (5).
1995). Lastly, the model will take care of the problem of the so-called “spurious”
regression associated with non-stationary data.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULT
4.1 Overview
The time series properties of our data were examined by conducting the unit root
test of stationarity using the Augmented Dickey-Filler (ADF) test and co-
integration test using Engle Granger co-integration procedure. The results for the
stationarity test using Augmented Dickey-Filler (ADF) test are presented in table
4.1 below:
Table 4.1 Unit Roots Test (ADF – Test)
Variable t-adf Lag 1% critical 5% critical
length value value
DDLEXCH -4.8586** 1 -2.637 -1.952
DLINT 5.4418** 1 -2.637 -1.952
DDLGDP -3.1043** 1 -2.637 -1.952
DLINF -5.9056** 1 -2.637 -1.952
DDLTOP -4.8482** 1 -2.637 -1.952
For the variables to be stationary, it is expected that the t-adf is greater than the
chosen critical values. As it is shown in the table 4.1, all the variables are
stationary at different level of differencing. However, the levels of the differencing
shows that real exchange rate, gross domestic product and trade openness are
stationary after second differencing, while real interest rate and inflation rate are
stationary after first differencing. In other words, we say that real exchange rate,
gross domestic product and trade openness are integrated of order 2, while interest
rate and inflation rate are integrated of order 1.
38
The result shows the existence of co-integration among the variables because the
residual obtained from the linear combination of none stationary series is stationary
at both 5% and 1% critical values. Hence there is necessity to estimate an Error
Correction Model (ECM) that is the model in equation number (6).
4.3 Presentation of Dynamic ECM modeling of REXCH result
Table 4.3 Result Summary
Variables Coefficient Std.Error T-value T-prob Part RYˆ
CONSTANT 0.049238 0.054465 0.904 0.3754 0.0343
DDLEXCH_1 -0.42343 0.16501 -2.566 0.0173 0.2226
DLINT 0.35261 0.27102 1.301 0.2061 0.0686
DLINT_1 0.22703 0.26289 0.864 0.3967 0.0314
DDLGDP 0.079066 0.2148 1.276 0.2148 0.0661
DDLGDP_1 0.38623 0.27671 1.396 0.1761 0.0781
DLINF -0.10849 0.070760 -1.533 0.1389 0.0927
39
The lag value of real exchange rate has a negative and significant relationship with
real exchange rate. The result shows that a 10% increase in the past value of real
exchange rate leads to 42% decrease in real exchange rate. The t-value of -2.566
which is greater than absolute 2 using a 2-t Rule of Thumb is statistically
significant suggest that the past one year value of real exchange rate is a major
determinant of real exchange rate in Nigeria.
The current and immediate past year value of real interest has a direct relationship
with real exchange rate. A 10% increase in real interest in the current and previous
one year leads to 35% and 0.22% increase in real exchange rate respectively. The
positive sign display by real interest rate meet economic apriori expectation since
interest rate differentials will affect the equilibrium exchange rate. A rise in
Nigeria interest rates relative to other countries rates all things being equal, will
cause investors to switch from their currency to Naira-denominated securities to
take advantage of the higher Naira rates. The net result will be depreciation of the
Naira in the absence of government intervention. However, the result indicates that
40
real interest is not a major determinant of real exchange rate in Nigeria as shown
by its t-values of 1.301 and 0.864 which are statistically insignificant.
Similarly, gross domestic product growth rate has a direct and insignificant
relationship with real exchange rate both in the current and previous year. From the
regression result, a 10% increase in gross domestic product growth rate causes real
exchange rate to increase by 7.9% and 38% in the current year and immediate past
year respectively. The positive signs display by real gross domestic product growth
rate meet economic a priori expectation. This is because a nation with strong
economic growth will attract investment capital seeking to acquire domestic assets.
The demand for domestic assets in turn will results in an increased demand for the
domestic currency and a stronger currency, other things being equal. Empirical
evidence supports the hypothesis that economic growth should lead to a stronger
currency. Conversely, nations with poor growth prospects will see an exodus of
capital and weaker currencies. However, the result shows that gross domestic
product growth rate is not statistically significant in the analysis showing that it is
not a major determinant of real exchange rate in Nigeria.
Inflation rate displays a negative insignificant relationship with real exchange rate
both in the current year and past one year. From the regression result, a 10%
increase in inflation rate causes 10% and 15% decrease in real exchange rate in the
current and immediate past year respectively. Notwithstanding, inflation rate is not
a significant factor that determine country real exchange rate.
Surprisingly, while trade openness both at the current and past one year value has a
negative relationship with real exchange rate, the current year value is insignificant
in determine real exchange rate, while the past one year value appeared to be one
of the major determinant of real exchange in Nigeria. According to the regression
41
result, a 10% increase in trade openness in the current and previous year leads to
0.72% and 37% decrease in real exchange rate respectively. The fact that trade
openness is statistically significant in determine real exchange rate suggests the
important of external factors in the determination of real exchange rate in Nigeria
and the fact that trade openness is expected to transmits its impact through
unexpected changes in the exchange rate.
4.7 F- test
We also conducted the f-test to check for model adequacy.
Hypothesis formulation
H0: the model is well specify
H1: there is misspecification of model
Decision Rule: If F-tabulated > F-calculated, we accept H0,
F (11, 21) =4.4706 and F- Table =2.65
42
Since the F-calculated of 4.4706 is greater than the F-tabulated of 2.65 at 5% level
of significance, we accept H0 and reject H1. Thus we concluded that the model is
good and well specified.
As the result in the table shows, that there is no multicollinearity among the
variables since none of the pair -wise correlation coefficient between any two
explanatory variables is above 0.8.
43
CHAPTER FIVE
The empirical result shows on the first hypothesis that the lag value of real
exchange rate has a negative and significant relationship with real exchange rate.
The result suggests that one year past value real exchange rate is a major
44
determinant of real exchange rate in Nigeria. The current and past value of real
interest has a positive relationship with real exchange rate, but it is however not
statistically significant to determine real exchange rate in Nigeria. Similarly, gross
domestic product growth rate is not a major determinant of real exchange rate in
Nigeria. Inflation rate investment displays a negative relationship with real
exchange rate both in the current and past one year. Notwithstanding, inflation rate
is not a significant factor determine country real exchange rate. Lastly, while trade
openness both at the current and past one year value has a positive relationship
with real exchange rate, the current year value is insignificant to determine real
exchange rate, while the past one year value appeared to be one of the major
determinant of real exchange in Nigeria.
On the second hypothesis, the result obtained indicates that there is evidence of
long run relationship between real exchange rate and two explanatory variables
(gross domestic product growth rate and trade openness).
The lag of real exchange rate have a crucially effect on expectations of future
exchange rate changes, this will aid the forecasts of future economic conditions.
Therefore, sound policies and management should consolidate on this lag impact
so as to better the economy.
The study shows that real exchange rate responds positively to real interest rates.
Monetary policy is crucial here. There is need for the monetary authority to pursue
45
interest rate stability as swings in interest rate will post a serious treat to
maintaining stability in real exchange rate.
Findings from this study shows that trade openness is one of the major determinant
of real exchange rate in Nigeria. Depreciation in exchange rate will make Nigeria’s
export cheaper relative to imports, this will increase the country’s export receipts
and in turn improve the position of the foreign reserve. The exchange rate should
not be allowed to appreciate too much, since it may reduce the foreign reserve of
the country as well as to be able to import at lower cost.
Equally worthy to note is the fact that there has been a remarkable improvement in
the annual average depreciation rate which implies a stronger currency for the
country. Government should try to encourage monetary policies so as to maintain
the strength of the naira.
46
Government should pursue strategies that are designed to neutralize the effects of
such practices as round tripping, over-invoicing and under-invoicing which have
characterized the activities of the banking sectors in the recent years.
5.3 Conclusion
A major gain from Nigeria’s adoption of structural adjustment programme was the
liberalization of the foreign exchange market, in which the determination of the
exchange rate of the national currency (Naira) has largely been dictated by market
forces. This has helped to enhance efficiency in the allocation and utilization of
foreign exchange resources. Over the years, various types of market mechanisms
have been adopted, with Dutch Auction System (DAS) being the latest. The
introduction of DAS has been a giant step in promoting increased flexibility in the
management of the naira exchange rate. Under the DAS, satisfactory progress has
been made to make naira exchange rate to be truly market-determined.
However, there are some considerations for adopting a particular exchange rate
regime. If the market behaves in an efficient and rational manner, then free floating
is the proper policy to follow. If the market occasionally produces irrational and
inefficient outcomes (market failure), then managed floating will be an appropriate
policy. The actual exchange rate regime chosen by the authority will have
consequences in the economy. Most countries will not follow a prescribed
exchange rate regime due to different circumstances facing the economy for every
external shock. For instance, developing economies like Nigeria are subject to
external shock of investor sentiment and market participants’ perception of risk.
47
Also, business cycle, monetary policy, and fiscal policy of developed countries
have impact on the economies of developing countries and their exchange rates.
The choice between floating and hard peg depends on the inflationary history of
the economy and its own characteristics. Finding the exchange rate that serves
many economic objectives is not an easy task. The appropriate regime at any given
time for a given economy should be based on the structural characteristics and the
flexibility of that economy
48
REFERENCES
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www.nber.org/papers/w6867
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.
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53
APPENDIX
YEAR EXCH INT GDPGR INF TOP
1970 0.7143 7 10 13.8 28107
1971 0.6955 7 18.39 16 36876
1972 0.6579 7 7.29 3.2 38549
1973 0.6579 7 9.52 5.4 45092
1974 0.6299 7 5.94 13.4 77165
1975 0.6159 6 0.18 33.9 55212
1976 0.6265 6 10.77 21.2 59731
1977 0.6466 6 -6.7 15.4 69201
1978 0.606 7 -6.72 16.6 49579
1979 0.5957 7.5 2.63 11.8 66595
1980 0.5464 7.5 2.9 9.9 79403
1981 0.61 7.75 -8.4 20.6 56782
1982 0.6729 10.25 -0.6 7.7 45621
1983 0.7241 10 -4.9 23.2 32105
1984 0.7649 12.5 5.8 39.6 34113
1985 0.8938 9.25 10.5 5.5 42253
1986 2.0206 10.5 -1.8 5.4 33262
1987 4.0179 17.5 -4 10.2 70563
1988 4.5367 16.5 9.4 34.5 60593
1989 7.3916 26.8 8.5 50.5 124653
1990 8.0378 25.5 13.8 7.4 214793
1991 9.9095 20.01 -2.6 12.7 131554
1992 17.298 28.8 2 44.8 120794
1993 22.051 36.09 1.5 57.2 111668
1994 21.886 21 -0.6 57 82026
1995 21.886 20.18 2.3 72.8 122400
1996 21.886 19.74 6.6 29.3 110899
1997 21.886 13.54 3.2 8.5 147505
1998 21.886 18.29 0.3 10 114850
1999 92.693 21.32 1.5 6.6 195323
2000 102.11 17.98 5.4 6.9 242676
2001 111.94 18.29 3.1 18 239014
2002 120.97 24.4 1.5 13.7 246820
2003 129.36 20.48 10.7 14 278593
2004 133.5 19.15 6 15 292396
2005 131.66 17.85 7.2 17.8 310731
2006 128.33 18.2 5.6 8.3 5752884
Source: Extract from CBN Statistical bulletin 2006 publication
Note: Gross domestic product growth rate and trade openness was computed by
researcher
54
LEXCH = log(EXCH);
DLEXCH = diff(LEXCH, 1);
DDLEXCH = diff(DLEXCH, 1);
LINT = log(INT);
DLINT = diff(LINT, 1);
DDLINT = diff(DLINT, 1);
LGDP = log(GDP);
DLGDP = diff(LGDP, 1);
DDLGDP = diff(DLGDP, 1);
LINF = log(INF);
DLINF = diff(LINF, 1);
DDLINF = diff(DLINF, 1);
LTOP = log(TOP);
DLTOP = diff(LTOP, 1);
DDLTOP = diff(DLTOP, 1);
ARCH Coefficients:
Constant Lag 1
Coeff. 0.08077 -0.09339
Std.Err 0.03918 0.1991
V06ý
Coeff. -0.2909
t-value -1.184
V06ý
Coeff. -0.2909
t-value -1.184
Descriptive statistics
The present sample is: 3 to 37
Means
DDLEXCH DLINT DDLGDP DLINF DDLTOP
3.015e-005 0.02730 -0.1978 -0.01875 0.07563
Standard Deviations
DDLEXCH DLINT DDLGDP DLINF DDLTOP
0.3964 0.2243 1.253 0.8369 0.6922
58
Correlation matrix
DDLEXCH DLINT DDLGDP DLINF DDLTOP
DDLEXCH 1.000
DLINT 0.2705 1.000
DDLGDP 0.1191 0.05217 1.000
DLINF -0.01386 0.2462 0.2281 1.000
DDLTOP 0.2205 0.2764 -0.6084 -0.1868 1.000