The CFA Arrangements: More than Just An Aid Substitute?

January 1, 2007

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Format: Chicago

Etienne B Yehoue. The CFA Arrangements: More than Just An Aid Substitute?, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2007) accessed November 21, 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 CFA franc zone has had one of the longest experiences with a fixed exchange rate for a convertible currency and regional integration of any group of developing countries. France, the anchor country, provides aid to support the zone. This paper asks whether the arrangements are more than just an aid substitute. The paper addresses this issue by evaluating the overall performance of the zone over the period 1960-2004. The analysis reveals that when the zone is hit by a negative shock, France increases its aid, thereby acting as a shock absorber. However, it also finds that the zone displays strong performance in two areas-price stability and fiscal policy. Thus the paper concludes that the arrangements are not an aid substitute; they have real macroeconomic value for the zone and complement aid.

Subject: Economic integration, Exchange rate arrangements, Exports, Foreign exchange, Government asset and liability management, Inflation, International trade, Monetary unions, Prices, Public financial management (PFM)

Keywords: Absorption role, Aid, Anchor country, Anchor currency inflation rate, CEMAC member country, Central Africa, CFA franc, CFA member country, CFA zone member country, Country, Currency Unions, Exchange rate arrangements, Exports, France, France's export, Government asset and liability management, Inflation, Inflation country, Inflation rate variability, International Risk Sharing, Monetary unions, Single currency, Trade, West Africa, WP, Zone anchor country, Zone countries' inflation rate variability, Zone country

Publication Details

Pages:

33
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2007/019
Stock No:

WPIEA2007019
ISBN:

9781451865837
ISSN:

1018-5941

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