The Effect of a Common Currency on Trade - Ireland before and after the Sterling Link

Abstract

This paper uses the introduction of an exchange rate between Ireland and the UK in 1979 as a natural experiment to shed light on the effects of a common currency on the volume of international trade. No evidence is found from time series or panel regressions that the change of exchange rate regime had a significant effect on the pattern of Irish trade. This finding casts doubt on the belief that the European Economic and Monetary Union will have a major effect on the pattern of trade between participating countries.