Discussion paper

DP13952 A Macroprudential Theory of Foreign Reserve Accumulation

This paper proposes a theory of foreign reserves as macroprudential policy. We study an open economy model of financial crises, in which pecuniary externalities lead to overborrowing, and show that by accumulating international reserves, the government can achieve the constrained-efficient allocation. The optimal reserve accumulation policy leans against the wind and significantly reduces the exposure to financial crises. The theory is consistent with the joint dynamics of private and official capital flows, both over time and in the cross section, and can quantitatively account for the recent upward trend in international reserves.

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Citation

Arce, F, J Bengui and J Bianchi (2019), ‘DP13952 A Macroprudential Theory of Foreign Reserve Accumulation‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 13952. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp13952