International Macroeconomics

Question A:

Under a fixed exchange rate and fully liberalized capital flows, a country loses domestic control of monetary policy.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question B:

For emerging and developing economies open to the world capital market, a flexible exchange rate confers little advantage over a pegged exchange rate in terms of economic stability.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question C:

The key feature making the US a more natural optimum currency area than the euro area is higher labor mobility.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question A Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
This is the conventional wisdom but it depends on an absence of frictions. If there are market imperfections that act as barriers maybe not.
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Bandiera
Oriana Bandiera
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE
Strongly Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Mundell showed it
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Uncertain
10
Bio/Vote History
Poorly designed monetary policy actions can do much damage especially if the exchange rate regime is a peg. Including to destroy the peg!
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
The statement is true to a certain degree only. Therefore, MP still has impact albeit less than under a flexible exchange rate system.
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Disagree
10
Bio/Vote History
Macroprudential policies can offer some protection and hence some autonomy.
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Reis
Ricardo Reis
London School of Economics
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
The question said "fully liberalized". Understanding that as meaning that UIP holds exactly, then this is a theorem
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Strongly Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
I believe the evidence favours this interpretation.
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Unless it is a large country like the US and, maybe, the eurozone.
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History

Question B Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Depends on the volatility of the exchange rate in a floating regime. This is uncertainty may act as a barrier.
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Especially over a hard peg.
Bandiera
Oriana Bandiera
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
if combined with restrictions on capital flows
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
Uncertain
9
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
In this generality, the statement is wrong. Eventually it all depends on the underlying economic policy pursued.
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Reis
Ricardo Reis
London School of Economics
Strongly Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School
Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
Depends on monetary framework, on size of country, on openness. Flexible exchange rates by themselves not enough for macro stabilisation.
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Uncertain
9
Bio/Vote History
depends on many factors including the ability of the domestic CB to control inflation
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Picking the right regime is hard. Pegs can be unstable while flexible exchange rates can be volatile. There isn't always one right answer.
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History

Question C Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
It's one of the key features but there are others like a single federal authority with significant economic powers of taxing and spending.
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Labor mobility in the US is not as large as most people believe. It is also key that US is not just a currency union but also a "tax union".
Bandiera
Oriana Bandiera
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
fiscal union not far behind
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
Strongly Disagree
10
Bio/Vote History
It is the political and fiscal union. Labor mobility is a factor, but the third or fourth important, not the key reason.
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Together with fiscal redistribution through the federal government
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Disagree
10
Bio/Vote History
National political identities in euro area create additional problems going well beyond labor immobility.
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
The comparison between US and Euro area misses out on the key point, that defines OCA: the fiscal and political unity.
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Clearly an important feature, but not clear it is most important one. Other markets, language, institutions & fiscal system matter too.
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
A fiscal union helps, too.
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Strongly Disagree
10
Bio/Vote History
Financial development and financial integration more important.
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School
Strongly Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
Reis
Ricardo Reis
London School of Economics
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Other features matter as well, for instance the fiscal union or the relative efficiency of the allocation of capital flows.
-see background information here
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School
Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
Fiscal transfers are key for a stable currency area. Optimality unclear.
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Strongly Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
there are many other factors across the EU, including lack of a fiscal union, differences in social services and regulatory standards
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Labour mobility is certainly a key feature but so is political/fiscal integration
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Political union is what makes the US a more natural optimum currency area. It would be strange if the US had multiple regional currencies.
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
But also little regional heterogeneity of preferences, a common fiscal policy and an enforced no-bailout rule.
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History