External Imbalances in the Euro Area

The paper examines the extent to which current account imbalances of euro area countries are related to intra-euro area factors and to external trade shocks. We argue that the traditional explanations for the rising imbalances are correct, but are incomplete. We uncover a large impact of declines in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chen, Ruo
Other Authors: Milesi-Ferretti, Gian, Tressel, Thierry
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C. International Monetary Fund 2012
Series:IMF Working Papers
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: International Monetary Fund - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
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651 4 |a Germany 
653 |a Elasticity 
653 |a Economics 
653 |a Balance of trade 
653 |a Economic Theory 
653 |a Economywide Country Studies: Europe 
653 |a Trade balance 
653 |a Open Economy Macroeconomics 
653 |a Currency 
653 |a Trade: General 
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653 |a International economics 
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653 |a International trade 
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653 |a Real exchange rates 
653 |a Agriculture: Aggregate Supply and Demand Analysis 
653 |a Economic theory 
653 |a Empirical Studies of Trade 
653 |a Imports 
653 |a Foreign exchange 
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520 |a The paper examines the extent to which current account imbalances of euro area countries are related to intra-euro area factors and to external trade shocks. We argue that the traditional explanations for the rising imbalances are correct, but are incomplete. We uncover a large impact of declines in export competitiveness and asymmetric trade developments vis-à-vis the rest of the world –in particular vis-à-vis China, Central and Eastern Europe, and oil exporters- on the external balance of euro area debtor countries. While current account imbalances of euro area deficit countries vis-à-vis the rest of the world increased, they were financed mostly by intra-euro area capital inflows (in particular by the purchase of government and financial institutions’ securities, and cross-border interbank lending) which permitted external imbalances to grow over time