An examination of the determinants of real exchange rate in Namibia

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Date
2017
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
This study examines the determinants of the real exchange rate in Namibia using annual time series for the period 1980 to 2014. The fundamental determinants of the real exchange rate in Namibia are openness, terms of trade, ratio of government expenditure to GDP and the ratio of investment to GDP. Time series properties were tested for stationarity using the Dickey Fuller-GLS test. The variables were found to be non- stationary but became stationary at their first differences. The study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds testing approach to co-integration to test for the existence of the long run relationships among the variables. The ARDL results confirm the presence of a long run relationship among the variables. The empirical investigations show that an increase in openness appreciates the real exchange rate while terms of trade, ratio of government expenditure to GDP and the ratio of investment to GDP depreciate the real exchange rate. However, the ratio of investment to GDP appreciates the real exchange rate in the short run. Openness and terms of trade are the only variables that significantly determine the real exchange rate in the long run while in the short run, the real exchange rate is only determined by terms of trade.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Economics
Keywords
Real exchange rate
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