Organization The Exchange Rate Studies Unit is one of the three core research units of the Economic Growth Centre.
Objective The Unit's objective is to promote research on the exchange rate systems and related macroeconomic policy analyses of the region.
Relevance Given the highly open nature of the ASEAN economies and the Newly Industrialized Economies (NIEs), research in this area has a great deal of relevance for both policymakers and academics. The Asian crisis of 1997-1998 serves as a powerful reminder of the relevance of regional exchange rate systems and policies. A more current reminder is the on-going exchange rate system reform in China and the heated debate surrounding it. The Unit has actively supported, and will continue to support, studies with substantial policy implications for the regional economies. At the same time, the Unit has also encouraged, and will continue to encourage, research that makes more general contributions toward economic theory and policy analysis in the area of exchange rates.
Scope While the Unit's focus is on the exchange rate systems and policies of ASEAN and the NIEs, its scope of interest is much broader. More specifically, the Unit will encourage and support research on monetary policies, fiscal policies and structural characteristics that have a significant impact on exchange rate systems and policies. Examples of relevant structural characteristics include the degree of wage rigidity and country-specific institutions such as Singapore's CPF system. Similarly, the Unit actively welcomes research on economies outside the region that provide valuable lessons for the region. In short, while the Unit has a clear and well-defined central theme of regional exchange rate systems and policies, it embraces an inclusive philosophy of incorporating all research that impinges directly upon this theme.
Unit Coordinator :
Assoc Prof Paul Yip S. L., Tel: 6790 4983, E-mail: aslyip@ntu.edu.sg
Members:
Assoc. Prof. Joseph Alba, Tel: 6790 6234, E-mail: ajoalba@ntu.edu.sg
Asst. Prof. Yothin Jinjarak, Tel: 6790 6798, E-mail: yjinjarak@ntu.edu.sg