Integrating transition economies into the global commercial and trade market system is a prolonged and risky process. This book is a collection of studies dealing with the different issues related to the liberalization of external relations in economies moving from a socialist to a market-based system The focus is on external sector developments, and the topics deal with balance of payments conditions, exchange rate policies and regimes, international competitiveness, international capital flows, trade, and other matters related to the integration of transition economies into the world economy. An understanding of the principles involved and of the experiences of both transition and advanced economies during this process is crucial to ensure its ultimate success. Written by internationally recognized scholars, the chapters cover these issues in a systematic manner. The first section treats current account developments, capital flows, and exchange rate policies in transition countries, the second section deals with specific issues related to international trade, and the final section consists of six specific country experiences. In this final section, a chapter dealing with the Russian Federation discusses the collapse of the ruble in August 1998.

Integrating transition economies into the global commercial and trade market system is a prolonged and risky process. This book is a collection of studies dealing with the different issues related to the liberalization of external relations in economies moving from a socialist to a market-based system The focus is on external sector developments, and the topics deal with balance of payments conditions, exchange rate policies and regimes, international competitiveness, international capital flows, trade, and other matters related to the integration of transition economies into the world economy. An understanding of the principles involved and of the experiences of both transition and advanced economies during this process is crucial to ensure its ultimate success. Written by internationally recognized scholars, the chapters cover these issues in a systematic manner. The first section treats current account developments, capital flows, and exchange rate policies in transition countries, the second section deals with specific issues related to international trade, and the final section consists of six specific country experiences. In this final section, a chapter dealing with the Russian Federation discusses the collapse of the ruble in August 1998.

This book looks at the PPP persistence puzzle, and econometric aspects of exchange rate dynamics and their implications. It also explores the importance of exchange rate dynamics in the pass-through effects (PTE) and the econometric aspects of the exchange rates dynamics linked to structural shocks on different economies.

This book deals with exchange rate arrangements and exchange rate policies. Chapter 2 classifies exchange rates into flexible, intermediate and rigid arrangements. The book is subdivided into an arrangement of free float, managed float, pegged but adjustable, target zone, crawling peg, hard peg, currency board, dollarisation, and monetary union. This chapter also discusses hypothesis of vanishing intermediate exchange rate arrangements as well as it deals with differentiation between de jure, and de facto exchange rate arrangements. Chapter 3 deals with the issue of choosing an appropriate exchange rate arrangement. The book briefly characterises basic approaches of how to choose an exchange rate regime. Furthermore, the book reviews considerations stemming from the optimum currency area literature. Chapter 4 deals with problems of exchange rate, which were encountered by the most developed transition countries. After discussing the initial stabilisation problems of the early 1990s, it provides a general overview of the macroeconomic situation and exchange rates arrangements in these countries in the period 1990-2004. Also the book discusses issues connected with the future introduction of the euro into these countries. Chapter 5 provides the reader with two case studies. First, a discussion of the Czech experience in the transition period till the crisis in May 1997 is presented. Second, a discussion of the Hungarian experience concerning banking and exchange rate policy in the 1990s till the early years of this century. Finally, Chapter 6 discusses different historical periods from the viewpoint of currency arrangements.

Structural change, economic growth and adequate exchange rate adjustment are key challenges in the context of EU eastern enlargement as are consistent macroeconomic policies. The authors focus on sectoral adjustment across industries in catching-up countries and explain changes in the composition of output – this includes new aspects of the Chenery model. They describe and analyze the spatial pattern of specialization and adjustment in many countries. Theoretical and empirical analysis of foreign direct investment, innovation and structural change shed new light on economic dynamics in Old Europe and New Europe. As regards exchange rate dynamics both traditional aspects (such as the Balassa-Samuelson effect) and new approaches to understanding exchange rate developments are presented. Links between exchange rate changes and innovation are particularly emphasized.

The international macroeconomics area has experienced substantial growth over the past decade. The goal of this volume is to present the most important developments in the international macroeconomics field in recent years. The literature in this area has evolved mainly in four directions that constitute the four parts of this book. In particular, Part I focuses on the purchasing power parity (PPP) puzzle, Part II presents papers that try to explain the behaviour of nominal and real exchange rates, Part III covers the financial crises, currency crises and contagion recent literature and, finally, the behaviour of exchange rates, inflation and output convergence in Central and Eastern European transition economies are considered in Part IV.

The Web edition of the IMF Survey is updated several times a week, and contains a wealth of articles about topical policy and economic issues in the news. Access the latest IMF research, read interviews, and listen to podcasts given by top IMF economists on important issues in the global economy. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/home.aspx

This book examines an array of different distortions that are causing food supply chain dysfunction in many countries. It outlines the underlying changes that are currently occurring, which will have an influence on the direction of future food supply chains, and provides some solutions to the current food security problem.

An analysis in political-economic terms of how certain groups of the managerial-banker elite in Russia grab power and wealth to a highly unusual degree in modern history. The book draws together various pieces of evidence to offer a convincing overall picture.