Rebalancing in the Euro Area and Cyclicality of Current Account Adjustments

July 22, 2014

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Thierry Tressel, and Shengzu Wang. Rebalancing in the Euro Area and Cyclicality of Current Account Adjustments, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2014) accessed December 3, 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 examines progress with the external rebalancing of euro area deficit countries. Relative prices are adjusting at different pace across countries and with different compositions of wage cuts and labor shedding. There is so far limited evidence of resource re-allocation from non-tradable to tradable sectors, while improved export performance is still dependent on external demand from the rest of world. Current account adjustments have taken place, reflecting structural changes but also cyclical forces, suggesting that part of the improvements may unwind when cyclical conditions improve. Looking ahead, relying only on relative price adjustments (which adversely affects demand) to rebalance the euro area could prove very challenging. Structural reforms will play an important role in the reallocation of resources to the tradable sector and the associated relative price adjustment, while boosting non-price and price competitiveness.

Subject: Balance of payments, Current account, Export performance, Exports, International trade, Labor, Labor costs, Potential output, Production

Keywords: Current Account, Current account adjustment, Deficit country, Euro Area, Export performance, Export performance, Exports, Global, Imbalances, Import shifter, Labor costs, Output gap, Potential output, Rebalancing, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

31
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2014/130
Stock No:

WPIEA2014130
ISBN:

9781498334426
ISSN:

1018-5941

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