A restatement of the case for Scottish fiscal autonomy : or: the Barnett Formula - a formula for a Rake’s Progress

In this paper, we rebut the case that Ashcroft, Christie and Swales [ACS] (2006) make in favour of the status quo fiscal settlement in Scotland that stems from the Scotland Act 1998. This Act in creating the Scottish Parliament and Executive effectively separated public spending by the Scottish government from the need to raise taxes to finance it; rather, financing comes from Westminster through the Barnett formula. We do not think that these arrangements provide a stable political solution in the UK, as is evidenced by the so-called West Lothian question - a matter that may be becoming of greater concern in England than hitherto. Scotland, therefore, should be forewarned that even if it does not move from the status quo, movement might anyway be forced on it

A real differential view of equilibrium real exchange rates and misalignments

This paper examines the interaction of G7 real exchange rates with real output and interest rate differentials. Using cointegration methods, we generally find a link between the real exchange rate and the real interest differential. This finding contrasts with the majority of the extant research on the real exchange rate - real interest rate link. We identify a new measure of the equilibrium exchange rate in terms of the permanent component of the real exchange rate that is consistent with the dynamic equilibrium given by the cointegration relation. Furthermore, the presence of cointegration also allows us to identify real, nominal and transitory disturbances with only minimal identifying restrictions. Our findings suggest that persistent deviations of real exchange rates from their equilibrium value can have feedback effects on the underlying fundamentals, hence altering the equilibrium exchange rate itself. This has important implications for the persistence measures of real exchange rates that are reported elsewhere in the literature

Remote from what? Perspectives of distance learning students in remote rural areas of Scotland

Distance learning is seen as the obvious answer for remote learners, and the use of online media is expected to overcome any access difficulties imposed by geographical distance. However, this belief may be obscuring our understanding of the role that location and individual circumstances have in shaping student experience. This paper explores the variation in experiences of remote rural students who study with the Open University (UK). The researchers found that perceptions of remoteness depended on geography, but were also relative to individual circumstances. With respect to students’ sense of connection with university staff and peers, most mentioned their contact with their personal tutor. Networks with peers were less common, a matter of concern if peer networks are integral to fostering improved retention and progression. In this particular context, distance education may be playing an important and distinctive role for remote students by providing opportunities for connections with like-minded people

A Panel Data Investigation of Real Exchange Rate Misalignment and Growth

The paper investigates the role of real exchange rate misalignment on long-run growth for a set of ninety countries using time series data from 1980 to 2004. We first estimate a panel data model (using fixed and random effects) for the real exchange rate, with different model specifications, in order to produce estimates of the equilibrium real exchange rate and this is then used to construct measures of real exchange rate misalignment. We also provide an alternative set of estimates of real exchange rate misalignment using panel cointegration methods. The variables used in our real exchange rate models are: real per capita GDP; net foreign assets; terms of trade and government consumption. The results for the two-step System GMM panel growth models indicate that the coefficients for real exchange rate misalignment are positive for different model specification and samples, which means that a more depreciated (appreciated) real exchange rate helps (harms) long-run growth. The estimated coefficients are higher for developing and emerging countries.long-run economic growth, real exchange rate misalignment, panel data analysis and System GMM

A Re-examination of the link between Real Exchange Rates and Real Interest Rate Differentials

Although the real exchange rate - real interest rate (RERI) relationship is central to most open economy macroeconomic models, empirical support for the relationship is generally found to be rather weak. In this paper we reinvestigate the RERI relationship using bilateral real exchange rate data spanning the period 1978 to 1997. We propose an alternative way of investi- gating the relationship using the present value VAR-based test of Campbell and Shiller (1987). Our empirical results provide robust evidence that the RERI relationship is economically signi…cant and that the real interest rate di¤erential is a reasonable approximation of the expected rate of depreciation over longer horizons. Although we report a statistical rejection of cross equa- tion restrictions, this can largely be ascribed to the fact that excess returns on a currency have a signi…cant degree of medium-run predictability, rather than to a rejection of the RERI. Our findings corroborate Baxters (1994) substantive conclusion that there is an important link between real exchange rates and real interest rates at business cycle frequencies.Real Exchange Rates; Real Interest Rates; Present Value Model

Realised and Optimal Monetary Policy Rules in an Estimated Markov-Switching DSGE Model of the United Kingdom

This paper conducts a systematic investigation of parameter instability in a small open economy DSGE model of the UK economy over the past thirty-five years. Using Bayesian analysis, we find a number of Markov-switching versions of the model provide a better fit for the UK data than a model with time-invariant parameters. The Markov-switching DSGE model that has two independent Markov-chains - one governing the shifts in UK monetary policy and nominal price rigidity and one governing the standard deviations of shocks - is selected as the best fitting model. The preferred model is then used to evaluate and design monetary policy. For the latter, we use the Markov-Jump-Linear-Quadratic (MJLQ) model, as it incorporates abrupt changes in structural parameters into derivations of the optimal and arbitrary policy rules. It also reveals the entire forecasting distribution of the targeted variables. To our knowledge, this is the first paper that attempts to evaluate and design UK monetary policy based on an estimated open economy Markov-switching DSGE model.DSGE models; Markov-switching; Bayesian analysis

A panel data investigation of real exchange rate misalignment and growth

The paper investigates the role of real exchange rate misalignment on long-run growth for a set of ninety countries using time series data from 1980 to 2004. We first estimate a panel data model (using fixed and random effects) for the real exchange rate, with different model specifications, in order to produce estimates of the equilibrium real exchange rate and this is then used to construct measures of real exchange rate misalignment. We also provide an alternative set of estimates of real exchange rate misalignment using panel cointegration methods. The variables used in our real exchange rate models are: real per capita GDP; net foreign assets; terms of trade and government consumption. The results for the two-step System GMM panel growth models indicate that the coefficients for real exchange rate misalignment are positive for different model specification and samples, which means that a more depreciated (appreciated) real exchange rate helps (harms) long-run growth. The estimated coefficients are higher for developing and emerging countries.Long-run Economic Growth; Real Exchange Rate Misalignment; Panel Data Analysis and System GMM

Equilibrium exchange rate determination and multiple structural changes

The large appreciation and depreciation of the US dollar in the 1980s stimulated an important debate on the usefulness of unit root tests in the presence of structural breaks. In this paper, we propose a simple model to describe the evolution of the real exchange rate. We then propose a more general smooth transition (STR) function than has hitherto been employed, which is able to capture structural changes along the (long-run) equilibrium path, and show that this is consistent with our economic model. Our framework allows for a gradual adjustment between regimes and allows for under- and/or over-valued exchange rate adjustments. Using monthly and quarterly data for up to twenty OECD countries, we apply our methodology to investigate the univariate time series properties of CPI-based real exchange rates with both the U.S. dollar and German mark as the numeraire currencies. The empirical results show that, for more than half of the quarterly series, the evidence in favour of the stationarity of the real exchange rate was clearer in the sub-sample period post-1980.Unit root tests, structural breaks, purchasing power parity

Behavioural equilibrium exchange rate estimates and implied exchange rate adjustments for ten countries.

In this paper we estimate the behaviour equilibrium exchange rates (BEERs) of Clark and MacDonald (1999) for the effective exchange rates of ten industrialised and emerging market economies that rank within the top 15 contributory economies to global imbalances. The sample period is 1988, quarter 1 to 2006 quarter 1. The conditioning variables used in the estimation of the BEER are: net exports as a proportion of GDP, a real interest differential, a terms of trade differential and GDP per capita differential. The ‘foreign’ magnitudes in the differentials were constructed using the trade weights used to construct the effective exchange rates. Using both single country and panel econometric methods, plausible BEER estimates were reported. These estimates were then used to back out the required exchange rate adjustments necessary to fulfil the three scenarios of Williamson (2006). The ball park currency adjustments required are in the range of 27.3 to 46.6 per cent devaluations for the Chinese renminbi, 5 to 11 per cent for the US dollar, approximately 6 per cent for the Japanese yen and no adjustment for the euro or Sterling.

Revisiting the Dollar-Euro Permanent Equilibrium Exchange Rate: Evidence from Multivariate Unobserved Components Models

We propose an alterative approach to obtaining a permanent equilibrium exchange rate (PEER), based on an unobserved components (UC) model. This approach offers a number of advantages over the conventional cointegration-based PEER. Firstly, we do not rely on the prerequisite that cointegration has to be found between the real exchange rate and macroeconomic fundamentals to obtain non-spurious long-run relationships and the PEER. Secondly, the impact that the permanent and transitory components of the macroeconomic fundamentals have on the real exchange rate can be modelled separately in the UC model. This is important for variables, where the long and short-run effects may drive the real exchange rate in opposite directions, such as the relative government expenditure ratio.Permanent Equilibrium Exchange Rate; Unobserved Components Model; Exchange rate forecasting.