Why Do Consumer Prices React less than Import Prices to Exchange Rates?

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_964C2384DF66
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Why Do Consumer Prices React less than Import Prices to Exchange Rates?
Journal
Journal of the European Economic Association, Papers and Proceedings
Author(s)
Bacchetta P., van Wincoop E.
ISSN
1542-4766
Publication state
Published
Issued date
04/2003
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
1
Number
2-3
Pages
662-670
Language
english
Abstract
It is well known that the extent of pass-through of exchange rate changes to consumer prices is much lower than to import prices. One explanation is local distribution costs. Here we consider an alternative, complementary, explanation based on the optimal pricing strategies of firms. We consider a model where foreign exporting firms sell intermediate goods to domestic firms. Domestic firms assemble the imported intermediate goods and sell final goods to consumers. When domestic firms face significant competition from other domestic final goods producing sectors (e.g., the non-traded goods sector) we show that they prefer to price in domestic currency, while exporting firms tend to price in the exporter's currency. In that case the pass-through to import prices is complete, while the pass-through to consumer prices is zero.
Web of science
Create date
19/11/2007 11:41
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:58
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