A structural threshold model of the exchange rate under optimal intervention

Abstract

By considering a social trade-off between targeting the exchange rate and minimizing intervention costs, nonlinear exchange rate dynamics can be captured by a structural threshold model. This article provides a theory-based empirical exchange rate model and shows how to put the model into an empirical investigation. To estimate the structural threshold model, we propose a two-step procedure which separately estimates the permanent and temporary fundamentals of the foreign exchange market. A demonstration of our approach is applied to 1981Q3-2008Q3 Taiwan's foreign exchange market, with a brief review of its monetary policies and central bank given prior. Estimation results are consistent with theoretical predictions and many intervention operations of Taiwan's central bank are successfully identified.Structural threshold model Exchange rate Managed float Intervention