Adjustment Under a Currency Peg: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania During the Global Financial Crisis 2008-09

By Catriona Purfield, Christoph B. Rosenberg

September 1, 2010

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Catriona Purfield, and Christoph B. Rosenberg Adjustment Under a Currency Peg: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania During the Global Financial Crisis 2008-09, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2010) accessed December 22, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

The paper traces the Baltics’ adjustment strategy during the 2008-09 global financial crisis. The abrupt end to the externally-financed domestic demand boom triggered a severe output collapse, bringing per capita income levels back to 2005/06 levels. In response to this shock, the Baltics undertook an internal devaluation that relied on unprecedented fiscal and nominal wage adjustment, steps to preserve financial sector stability as well as complementary efforts to facilitate voluntary private debt restructuring. One-and-half years on, the strategy is making good progress but not yet complete. Confidence in the exchange rate was maintained, the banking system was supported by its parent banks, external imbalances and inflation have largely disappeared, competitiveness is improving, and fiscal deficits are gradually being brought back towards pre-crisis levels. However, amid record levels of unemployment, further reforms are needed to foster a return to more balanced growth, fiscal sustainability, and a healthier banking system.

Subject: Banking, Currencies, Labor, Labor markets, Money, Unemployment, Wages

Keywords: Baltics, Boom bust, Competitiveness, Currencies, Economy earnings, Estonia, Fiscal adjustment, Global, Global financial crisis, Government takeover, Internal devaluation, Labor markets, Lithuania, Market share, Reductions in Latvia, Swap line, Unemployment, Unemployment rate, Wage, Wage adjustment, Wage reduction, Wages, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

34
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2010/213
Stock No:

WPIEA2010213
ISBN:

9781455205448
ISSN:

1018-5941

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