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The Eurozones
Unresolved Situation
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Erico Matias Tavares
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Jeff Haden
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Liz Ryan
Sep 28 2014
289 2 1
The More Distressing, Less
Noticed Message from
Microsoft
Sallie
Krawcheck
CEO
Nadella
Can
market
forces
prevail in the Eurozone?
start of the Eurozone debt crisis, this is a question worth considering, at a time
when the Southern Eurozone members - Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal,
which collectively account for over 30% of the GDP of the early adopters of the
Euro as a whole continue to struggle.
This is a complex topic for sure, but a simple economic indicator can be used to
help frame the situation.
The Real Effective Exchange Rate, or REER, is a weighted average of a
country's currency relative to an index or basket of other major currencies
adjusted for the effects of inflation. A country with higher inflation will seek to
devalue its currency to maintain competitiveness in relation to its trading partners
(the reverse also applies of course, but these days nobody seems to want a
strong currency). The REER therefore provides a gauge of that countrys
competitiveness in foreign markets.
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Under a fixed foreign exchange regime, policy options are much more limited. A
Eurozone member can become much less competitive relative to another
member with a lower inflation rate. Stated differently, its REER will increase in
that situation. This dynamic provides an insight as to how the Southern
European countries got into trouble in the first place, and some of the challenges
associated with its resolution.
Historical Context Leading Up to the 2008 Financial Crisis
The oil shocks of the 1970s had very damaging effects in the southern
contingent of the Eurozone, with inflation rates skyrocketing. Devaluations were
therefore a necessity to regain competitiveness, although these also provided an
inflationary feedback loop. In contrast Germany, and to a lesser degree France,
more or less kept inflation under control during this turbulent period.
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A program to promote economic convergence with the European core was then
implemented. This included the establishment of trading bands with other
European currencies in order to avoid wild swings and competitive devaluations
between trading partners, as well as facilitate greater economic integration going
forward.
As currency fluctuations narrowed, inflation at home would have to come down,
otherwise the REER would increase as a reflection of higher prices for their
goods and services abroad. Figure 2 shows this process of convergence in the
Southern European countries from 1995 up until the last business cycle peak in
2007.
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provide the credit close the tap. And thats precisely what followed.
After the 2008 Financial Crisis
Figure 5 shows how Southern Europe started to devalue in real terms as
financial conditions deteriorated from 2008 onwards. The decline in REER is
particularly pronounced in Greece, Spain and Portugal, spurred on by deep
austerity measures and a big curtailment of credit to the private sector.
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