Business Cycles in Emerging Economies: The Role of Interest Rates

Working Paper: NBER ID: w10387

Authors: Pablo A. Neumeyer; Fabrizio Perri

Abstract: We find that in a sample of emerging economies business cycles are more volatile than in developed ones, real interest rates are countercyclical and lead the cycle, consumption is more volatile than output and net exports are strongly countercyclical. We present a model of a small open economy, where the real interest rate is decomposed in an international rate and a country risk component. Country risk is affected by fundamental shocks but, through the presence of working capital, also amplifies the effects of those shocks. The model generates business cycles consistent with Argentine data. Eliminating country risk lowers Argentine output volatility by 27% while stabilizing international rates lowers it by less than 3%.

Keywords: No keywords provided

JEL Codes: E32; F32; F41


Causal Claims Network Graph

Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.


Causal Claims

CauseEffect
real interest rates (E43)business cycle (E32)
real interest rates (emerging economies) (E43)output volatility (E23)
country risk (F34)output volatility (E23)
international interest rates (E43)output volatility (E23)
fundamental shocks (E32)economic activity (E20)
working capital needs (G31)economic activity (E20)

Back to index