Dollarization and Financial Integration

Jonathan Heathcote and Cristina Arellano

No 6116, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: How does a country?s choice of exchange rate regime impact its ability to borrow from abroad? We build a small open economy model in which the government can potentially respond to shocks via domestic monetary policy and by international borrowing. We assume that debt repayment must be incentive compatible when the default punishment is equivalent to permanent exclusion from debt markets. We compare a floating regime to full dollarization. We find that dollarization is potentially beneficial, even though it means the loss of the monetary instrument, precisely because this loss can strengthen incentives to maintain access to debt markets. Given stronger repayment incentives, more borrowing can be supported, and thus dollarization can increase international financial integration. This prediction of theory is consistent with the experiences of El Salvador and Ecuador, which recently dollarized, as well as with that of highly-indebted countries like Italy which adopted the Euro as part of Economic and Monetary Union: in each case, around the time of regime change, spreads on foreign currency government debt declined substantially.

Keywords: Dollarization; Sovereign debt (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F33 F34 F36 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba and nep-mon
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Dollarization and financial integration (2010)
Working Paper: Dollarization and financial integration (2007)
Working Paper: Dollarization and financial integration (2007)
Working Paper: Dollarization and Financial Integration (2004)
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