Working Papers
1994
May 1, 1994
Government Securities Versus Central Bank Securities in Developing Open Market Operations: Evaluation and Need for Coordinating Arrangements
Description: In an indirect monetary policy framework, open market operations become the central bank’s main instrument. In the initial stages, when financial markets are still undeveloped, selection of a financial instrument for those operations and the design of supporting arrangements to ensure the central bank’s operational autonomy when using the instrument, are crucial issues. Based on theoretical arguments and experience of a sample of countries that embarked on financial reforms, this paper argues that government securities are the preferred instrument because of their better capacity to develop financial markets. The use of government securities, however, requires the most complex supporting arrangements.
May 1, 1994
Nigeria's Non-Oil Exports: Determinants of Supply and Demand, 1970-1990
Description: This paper reviews Nigeria’s non-oil export performance during the period 1970-90, analyzes the factors underlying the dismal performance, and estimates the supply-price elasticity of the exports for both the short and long run. A distinguishing feature of the analysis is the incorporation of the effect of domestic demand in the export supply equation for agricultural commodity exports--a feature usually reserved for the manufactured goods where it is generally assumed that domestic demand competes with export demand. The results provide evidence of the adverse effects of restrictive government policies on exports and underscore the utility of pricing policy in eliciting export supply.
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1994
April 1, 1994
Searching for the Virtues of the European Model
Description: The distributional effects of the minimum wage are analyzed in a model where skilled and unskilled labor enter the production function. It is argued that distributional goals are best achieved by letting the labor market clear and achieving redistribution through taxes and transfers.
Notes: Also published in Staff Papers, Vol. 41, No. 4, December 1994.
April 1, 1994
Information Externalities Affecting the Dynamic Pattern of Foreign Direct Investment: The Case of China
Description: The dynamic pattern of foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries shows a three-phase pattern. Despite government policies that promote it, initially the inflow of FDI is sluggish, followed by a period of considerable fluctuation before finally entering the stage of rapid growth. The paper explains the pattern through recourse to two concepts: the searching process of individual investors and the information externalities of investors in the aggregate. Policy implications that may serve to shift an economy of a developing country from small-scale FDI to one of rapidly expanding FDI are considered. As China is a clear example of this pattern, it has been selected to promote understanding of the process.