Republic of Latvia: Selected Issues

August 7, 2019

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Format: Chicago

Republic of Latvia: Selected Issues, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2019) accessed November 23, 2024

Summary

This Selected Issues paper analyses the implications of global value chains (GVC) participation for Latvia’s competitiveness and exposure to risks. Using a structural model, it assesses Latvia’s competitiveness through different real effective exchange rate (REER) measures and examines the main factors behind differences in the measures. Based on this analysis, the paper suggests policy options to strengthen Latvia’s competitiveness. The paper also estimates the impact of an appreciation of the GVC related REER measure on value added export growth and real GDP growth, and finds sizable effects, suggesting that a rapid labor market tightening could lead to erosion in competitiveness and reduction in growth. Finally, trade tension induced tariff hikes may have significant cost for Latvia, especially in terms of value added produced in the country. Trade tension induced tariff hikes are likely to have moderate costs for Latvia in terms of value added produced in the country. In this regard, policies aimed at enhancing product sophistication or quality and export market diversification could mitigate Latvia’s exposure to trade shocks in GVCs.

Subject: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Banking, Crime, Currencies, Foreign exchange, Money, Production, Productivity, Real effective exchange rates, Total factor productivity

Keywords: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Asia and Pacific, Baltics, CR, Currencies, Europe, Firm, Firm gain, Global, GVC participation, ISCR, Micro firm, Productivity, Real effective exchange rates, REER index, Total factor productivity, VA REER appreciation, Value-added REER, Western Europe, Zombie firm

Publication Details

Pages:

72
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Country Report No. 2019/265
Stock No:

1LVAEA2019002
ISBN:

9781513510057
ISSN:

1934-7685

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