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An expanded graphical representation of the portfolio balance model of exchange rate determination.


1. Introduction

The portfolio balance model of exchange rate determination was developed, inter alia [Latin, Among other things.] A phrase used in Pleading to designate that a particular statute set out therein is only a part of the statute that is relevant to the facts of the lawsuit and not the entire statute. , by Allen (1973), Branson (1975), and Allen and Kenen (1976). The model evolved from a general dissatisfaction with the implications of the flow model of exchange rate determination that is at the heart of the well-known Mundell-Fleming model The Mundell-Fleming model is an economic model first set forth by Robert Mundell and Marcus Fleming. The model is an extension of the IS-LM model. Whereas IS-LM deals with economy under autarky, the Mundell-Fleming model tries to describe a small open economy. .(1) If one assumes perfect substitutability between domestic and foreign bonds as well as rational expectations, the portfolio balance model reduces to the monetary model of exchange rate determination based on uncovered interest parity (UIP UIP Usual interstitial pneumonia, see there ). Although the latter two assumptions simplify the exposition, there is growing empirical evidence that the monetary model based on UIP is not consistent with the data.(2) This leaves the portfolio balance model (PBM PBM - play by mail. See play by electronic mail. ) as the major alternative asset market model of short-run exchange rate determination.

The PBM's one-diagram graphical representation (e.g. Cuthbertson and Taylor 1987, MacDonald 1988), whose style resembles that of the IS/LM model The IS/LM model, first developed by Sir John Hicks and Alvin Hansen, has been used from 1937 onwards to summarize a major part of Keynesian macroeconomics. Formulation
It can be presented as a graph of two intersecting lines in the first quadrant.
, gets high marks for conciseness and efficiency but falls short in providing an intuitive understanding Intuitive understanding is comprehension without any necessary contemplation or explanation.

When designing products it is useful to think as the "naïve user", someone who will use the product but has no knowledge of how to use it.
 of the forces that drive the model. The purpose of this paper is to offer a somewhat expanded graphical representation of the PBM. It features a diagram for each of the three markets considered by the PBM, domestic bond market, foreign bond market, and money market. Compared to the traditional one-diagram version, the expanded graph adheres more closely to the basic purpose of graphical representations of complex models: to provide intuition intuition, in philosophy, way of knowing directly; immediate apprehension. The Greeks understood intuition to be the grasp of universal principles by the intelligence (nous), as distinguished from the fleeting impressions of the senses.  rather than add another layer of conciseness that may not be easily understood by the non-specialist.

2. The Model in Equation Form

To appreciate the logical connection between graph and mathematical model
Note: The term model has a different meaning in model theory, a branch of mathematical logic. An artifact which is used to illustrate a mathematical idea is also called a mathematical model and this usage is the reverse of the sense explained below.
, it is useful to write down the PBM's underlying equations. The model consists in its core of three equilibrium conditions for three asset markets, domestic money (M), domestic bonds (B), and foreign bonds held domestically (F),(3)

[Mathematical Expression A group of characters or symbols representing a quantity or an operation. See arithmetic expression.  Omitted]

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

where the left-hand sides left-hand side nizquierda

left-hand side left nlinke Seite f

left-hand side nlato or
 of equations (1) through (3) represent asset supplies, the right-hand side right-hand side nderecha

right-hand side right nrechte Seite f

right-hand side nlato destro 
 asset demands, and where signs indicate the signs of partial derivatives partial derivative

In differential calculus, the derivative of a function of several variables with respect to change in just one of its variables. Partial derivatives are useful in analyzing surfaces for maximum and minimum points and give rise to partial differential
. A rise in its own rate raises the stock demand for an asset, an increase in its cross rate lowers it. Money is assumed to have no own rate of return.(4)

Money, domestic bonds, and foreign bonds are subject to an adding up constraint: the three assets sum to private domestic financial wealth (W),

W [is equivalent to] M + B + F/e (4)

By setting demand equal to supply for each asset we assume that all three markets are in stock equilibrium at all times.(5)

The three asset demands have the same form. Demand is a function of the rate of return on domestic bonds (i) and the expected rate of return expected rate of return

The rate of return expected on an asset or a portfolio. The expected rate of return on a single asset is equal to the sum of each possible rate of return multiplied by the respective probability of earning on each return.
 on foreign bonds (j),(6) which is given as

j = i* - [e.sup.e] - e/e (5)

where i* is the rate of return on foreign bonds in foreign currency and where the term ([e.sup.e] - e)/e represents the expected rate of appreciation of the home currency (US$). The variable [e.sup.e] denotes the expected exchange rate (foreign currency per $US). For given e, a rise in [e.sup.e] signifies an increase in the expected rate of appreciation of the dollar.(7) According to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 equation (5), such an increase reduces the expected rate of return on foreign bonds, and, hence, makes them less desirable to domestic investors. Wealth is another determinant determinant, a polynomial expression that is inherent in the entries of a square matrix. The size n of the square matrix, as determined from the number of entries in any row or column, is called the order of the determinant.  of asset demand. The variable enters as a scaler determining the size of desired asset holdings without affecting their composition.

The model consists of three endogenous variables Endogenous variable

A value determined within the context of a model. Related: Exogenous variable.
, the domestic bond return (i), the exchange rate (e), and wealth (W). All other variables are treated as exogenous Exogenous

Describes facts outside the control of the firm. Converse of endogenous.
, including exchange rate expectations.(8) F changes only as a result of current account surpluses or deficits. Domestic bonds and money are assumed non-tradable. They are held only by domestic residents. The assumed small size of the country, which allows us to treat i* as exogenous, makes them unattractive to foreigners Foreigners

alienage

the condition of being an alien.

androlepsy

Law. the seizure of foreign subjects to enforce a claim for justice or other right against their nation.

gypsyologist, gipsyologist

Rare.
. Since the model's purpose is to identify the short-run determinants of the exchange rate behavior, changes in income and price are ignored for simplicity.

3. Graphical Representation

Figure 1 provides a graphical representation of the model set out in equations (1) to (5). Panel (a) represents the equilibrium condition for the foreign bond market (equation 3) in terms of the variables i and e. This curve also forms part of the received graph of the PBM. Figure 1 deviates from the traditional BPM graph in that the markets for domestic money and bonds enter in their simple demand/supply representations (panels b and c, respectively) rather than as additional market equilibrium curves in panel (a).

To see the economic logic of the positive slope of the foreign bond equilibrium curve in panel (a) it is useful to convert equation (3) from level to share form and to make use of equations (4) and (5)

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

From equation (6) it is easy to see that a rise in e lowers the left-hand side of (6), that is, the supply of foreign bonds drops relative to domestic financial wealth. The rise in e increases the right-hand side of (6); the desired share of foreign bonds in total financial wealth goes up. Foreign bonds become more attractive because an increase in e lowers, for given [e.sup.e], the expected appreciation of the dollar. To eliminate the excess demand for foreign bonds and restore stock equilibrium, domestic residents have to be induced to lower their desired share of foreign bonds in favor of dollar-denominated bonds. This requires a rise in the domestic bond rate (i). Hence, a rise in e has to be accompanied by an increase in i to maintain equilibrium in the market for foreign bonds. Therefore, the curve in panel (a) of Figure 1 is upward sloping.(9)

The curve representing equilibrium in the foreign bond market shifts as variables other than i and e change. The direction of these shifts can be derived from equation (6) similar to its slope. Consider, for example, an increase in the money supply (M). A rise in M reduces the actual share of foreign bonds in total wealth (left side of equation 6). Without a corresponding decrease in the desired share of foreign bonds in wealth (right side of equation 6), excess demand will develop in the market for foreign bonds. Investors can be induced to lower their desired share of foreign bonds in favor of domestic bonds with an increase in the rate of return on domestic bonds (i). In sum, a rise in M requires i to go up for given e or, as depicted de·pict  
tr.v. de·pict·ed, de·pict·ing, de·picts
1. To represent in a picture or sculpture.

2. To represent in words; describe. See Synonyms at represent.
 in panel (a) of Figure 1, e to go down for given i. The equilibrium curve for foreign bonds shifts up or to the left as the money supply rises (M [arrow up]). The shifts caused by changes in exogenous variables Exogenous variable

A variable whose value is determined outside the model in which it is used. Related: Endogenous variable
 other than M can be derived in a completely analogous manner. The arrow in panel (a) of Figure 1 illustrates what will happen to the equilibrium curve in each case.

Panels (b) and (c) of Figure 1 assume for simplicity that the supplies of domestic bonds and money are unresponsive unresponsive Neurology adjective Referring to a total lack of response to neurologic stimuli  to domestic interest rate changes. This allows a clearer focus on the absolute and relative sizes of the slopes of the asset demand curves. They are constrained con·strain  
tr.v. con·strained, con·strain·ing, con·strains
1. To compel by physical, moral, or circumstantial force; oblige: felt constrained to object. See Synonyms at force.

2.
 by the adding-up condition implicit in Adj. 1. implicit in - in the nature of something though not readily apparent; "shortcomings inherent in our approach"; "an underlying meaning"
underlying, inherent
 equation (4). By the adding-up condition, the shares of total wealth held in money (m), domestic bonds (b), and foreign bonds (f) sum to unity for all rates of return i and j,

m(i,j) + b(i,j) + f(i,j) = 1 (7)

For given W, a change in i or j will not increase total asset demand, or more formally,

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

where the partial derivative of the desired share of money in the portfolio with respect to i ([m.sub.i]) represents the slope of the money demand curve in panel (b) of Figure 1. The other terms in equations (8) and (9) have to be interpreted equivalently. To see more clearly how the slopes are related, solve equation (8) for [b.sub.i],

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

The demand for domestic bonds reacts to a change in its own rate of return as much as the demands for money and foreign bonds taken together. A similar condition holds for the desired share of foreign bonds. A short form of expressing the economic content of equation (10) is to say that "own rate effects" dominate "cross rate effects" for desired changes in asset shares. For panels (b) and (c) of Figure 1, the adding-up condition implies that the slope of the curve for bond demand in panel (c) has to be more responsive to i than the demand curve for money.

4. Some Applications of the Graphical Model In probability theory, statistics, and machine learning, a graphical model (GM) is a graph that represents independencies among random variables by a graph in which each node is a random variable, and the missing edges between the nodes represent conditional independencies.  

Figure 2 illustrates the impact of an open-market purchase open-market purchase

The buying of stocks and bonds in the securities markets. For example, in order to satisfy the sinking fund requirement of a bond indenture, the issuer may call securities from investors or make open-market purchases.
 of domestic bonds by the Federal Reserve.(10) To induce investors to swap domestic bonds for money willingly, the Federal Reserve has to offer investors a sufficiently high bond price. An increase in the bond price is equivalent to a drop in the rate of return on domestic bonds. The drop in i increases the relative attractiveness to investors of both non-interest bearing money (panel b) and foreign bonds. Since investors desire to hold more foreign bonds in their portfolio, excess demand develops in the market for foreign bonds. For given levels of [e.sup.e] and i*, stock equilibrium can be restored in the market for foreign bonds only if the dollar depreciates (e [down arrow] in panel a). The dollar depreciation has both a substitution and a wealth effect. The substitution effect induces investors to reduce their stock demand for foreign bonds in favor of domestic bonds and money because the dollar depreciation increases, for given [e.sup.e], the expected rate of appreciation of the dollar. In panels (b) and (c) of Figure 2, this is depicted as a rightward shift of the demand curves for both money and domestic bonds. The wealth effect comes about because the dollar depreciation raises the dollar value of foreign bond holdings (F/e [arrow up]). An increase in wealth, however, raises investors' desired holdings of all three assets. The end result of the expansionary ex·pan·sion·ar·y  
adj.
Tending toward or causing expansion: the empire's expansionary policies in Asia. 
 open market operations Open Market Operations

The buying and selling of government securities in the open market in order to expand or contract the amount of money in the banking system. Purchases inject money into the banking system and stimulate growth while sales of securities do the opposite.
 is a depreciation of the dollar, a decrease in the rate of return on domestic bonds, and an increase in wealth.

To avoid a multitude of shifting curves in Figure 2, each demand curve is moved only once. Corresponding arrows indicate the economic reasoning. For example, the rightward shift in the demand curve for bonds in panel (c) is the result of a wealth effect and an exchange rate effect operating in the same direction.

Next, consider briefly the financing of a government budget deficit by bonds. To induce investors to hold a larger supply of domestic bonds, the own rate of return on domestic bonds has to increase (panel c). This lowers the willingness of investors to hold the two alternative assets Alternative Assets

A term referring to non-traditional assets with potential economic value.

Notes:
Examples of alternative assets include art and antiques, precious metals, fine wines, rare stamps and coins, and other collectibles such as sports cards.
, money and foreign bonds. Taken on its own, the substitution effect would create excess supplies in the markets for both money and foreign bonds. However, since wealth has gone up at the same time, excess supplies need not develop. The increase in wealth has made investors willing to hold more of all three assets at the given rate of return on domestic bonds.(11) Consequently, the demand curves for the two assets shift to the right in Figure 3 and the effect of a bond-financed budget deficit on the exchange rate is ambiguous. To simplify the graph, panel (a) of Figure 3 is drawn such that the exchange rate does not change. This assumes that the reduction in the actual share of foreign bonds in wealth (F/e W) is just matched by a reduction in their desired share (f), following the increase in the rate of return on domestic bonds.

Numerous other changes in policy or exogenous variables can be analyzed an·a·lyze  
tr.v. an·a·lyzed, an·a·lyz·ing, an·a·lyz·es
1. To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations.

2. Chemistry To make a chemical analysis of.

3.
 with the apparatus of Figure 1. Some cases together with their impact on the three endogenous variables i, e, and W are contained in Table 1. The signs have to be interpreted as in the previous equations. A question mark signifies an ambiguous effect. The first two columns, identified as (1) and (2), simply repeat the results obtained from Figures 2 and 3, with [Delta]M = -[Delta]B indicating an expansionary open market purchase of domestic bonds by the Federal reserve, and G - T = [Delta]B the financing of a government budget deficit (G-T G-T Goodson-Todman Productions (game show producers) ) by bonds. Column (3) provides the results for a budget deficit financed by money. Column (4) assumes the Federal Reserve buys foreign bonds to intervene in the foreign currency market and sterilizes the effect of those purchases on the domestic money supply by selling domestic bonds. Column (5) again assumes the Federal Reserve buys foreign bonds. This time, however, there is no sterilization sterilization

Any surgical procedure intended to end fertility permanently (see contraception). Such operations remove or interrupt the anatomical pathways through which the cells involved in fertilization travel (see reproductive system).
 of the resulting increase in the domestic money supply. Column (6) refers to an increase in foreign bonds as resulting from a current account surplus and the last column looks at the effect of an increase in the foreign interest rate.(12)

Notes

1. The problems of the flow model of exchange rate determination were identified early on by McKinnon and Oates (1966).

2. A summary of recent empirical evidence can be found in Boothe and Longworth (1986) and Froot and Frankel (1989).

3. F is denominated in foreign currency. Dividing F by the exchange rate (e [is equivalent to] foreign currency units A list of currency units, preferably with dates and regions.
  • Afghani - Afghanistan the new Afghani (AFN) is currently used in Afghanistan and has been used since 2003. Before that, the old Afghani (AFA) was used.
 per US$) converts it into domestic currency.

4. We abstract here from the fact that some monetary assets, such as NOW accounts, do pay interest in the U.S.

5. It is assumed that information and transaction costs Transaction Costs

Costs incurred when buying or selling securities. These include brokers' commissions and spreads (the difference between the price the dealer paid for a security and the price they can sell it).
 are minimal so that one need not worry about the dynamics of stock adjustment. All adjustments take place instantaneously in·stan·ta·ne·ous  
adj.
1. Occurring or completed without perceptible delay: Relief was instantaneous.

2.
. For empirical applications of the PBM, such an assumption oversimplifies matters; see, for example, Zietz and Weichert (1988).

6. Asset demands are specified here in the simplest possible form. At the expense of more complexity, one could add other determinants of asset demands, such as perceived risk.

7. Depending on the numerical values of e and [e.sup.e], an increase in the term ([e.sup.e] - e)/e could also be interpreted as (i) a reduction in the expected depreciation of the dollar, (ii) an increase in the expected depreciation of the foreign currency, or (iii) a reduction in the expected appreciation of the foreign currency.

8. Expectations play a trivial role in the PBM compared to rational expectations models, where they are generated from within the model.

9. See the appendix for a mathematical derivation derivation, in grammar: see inflection.  of this result.

10. This example also illustrates the point made earlier on the restrictions placed by the adding-up condition on the slopes of asset demand curves. If one makes the slope of the bond demand curve steeper than the one for money, the model will be unstable.

11. One may want to point out in this context that, while the supply of bonds has increased, no other component of wealth has been reduced in size. In particular, the money received by the government in return for its new bonds has not left the private sector but has been spent immediately. Hence, wealth has unambiguously gone up. We ignore here the neo-Ricarian debate over whether government bonds are indeed considered a component of wealth by the private sector.

12. Corresponding graphical illustrations along the lines of Figures 2 and 3 will be provided by the author upon request.

Appendix

To verify the slope and shift parameters of the equilibrium curve in panel (a) of Figure 1, we differentiate the equilibrium condition for the foreign asset market.

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

totally to find

[f.sub.i]W di + ((1 - f)F/[e.sup.2] + [f.sub.e]W)de = -[f.sub.i*]W di*

-[f.sub.e]e W d[e.sup.e] - fdM - f dB + (1-f)/e dF. (A2)

Setting di* = d[e.sup.e] = dM = dB = dF = 0, one can derive the curve's slope as

di/de = 1/-[f.sub.i]W((1-f)F/[e.sup.2] + [f.sub.e]W) [is greater than] 0 (A3)

Its sign is uniquely determined given the signs of the partial derivatives of equation (A1). Setting, alternatively, di = d[e.sup.e] = dM = dB = dF = 0 in equation (A2), one can identify how the equilibrium curve in panel (a) responds to a change in foreign interest rates (i*).

de/di* = -[f.sub.i]W/((1-f)F/[e.sup.2] + [f.sub.e]W) [is less than] 0 (A4)

that is, the equilibrium curve in panel (a) shifts to the left for an increase in foreign interest rates. Manipulating equation (A2) in a similar fashion for the other shift variables one can derive the comparative statistics indicated by the arrow in panel (a) of Figure 1.

References

Allen, P. R. "A Portfolio Approach to International Capital Flows." Journal of International Economics 3 (May 1973): 135-60.

Allen, P. R., and P. B. Kenen. "Portfolio Adjustment in Open Economies: A Comparison of Alternative Specifications." Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv 112 (1976): 34-71.

Boothe, P., and D. Longworth. "Foreign Exchange Market Efficiency Tests: Implications of Recent Empirical Findings." Journal of International Money and Finance 5 (June 1986): 136-52.

Branson, W. "Stocks and Flows in International Monetary Analysis." In International Aspects of Stabilization Stabilization

The action undertakes a country when it buys and sells its own currency to protect its exchange value.
Actions registered competitive traders undertake by on the NYSE to meet the exchange requirement that 75% of their traded be stabilizing, meaning that sell orders
 Policies, edited by A. Ando et al. Boston: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is responsible for the First District of the Federal Reserve, which covers Connecticut (excluding Fairfield County), Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. It is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. , 1975.

Cuthbertson, K., and M. P. Taylor. Macroeconomic mac·ro·ec·o·nom·ics  
n. (used with a sing. verb)
The study of the overall aspects and workings of a national economy, such as income, output, and the interrelationship among diverse economic sectors.
 Systems. New York New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of
: Basil Blackwell, 1987.

Froot, K. A., and J. A. Frankel. "Forward Discount Bias: Is It an Exchange Risk Premium?" Quarterly Journal of Economics The Quarterly Journal of Economics, or QJE, is an economics journal published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and edited at Harvard University's Department of Economics. Its current editors are Robert J. Barro, Edward L. Glaeser and Lawrence F. Katz.  104 (February 1989): 139-161.

MacDonald, R. Floating Exchange Rates: Theories and Evidence. London: Unwin and Hymann, 1988.

McKinnon, R. I., and W. Oates. The Implications of International Economic Integration of Monetary, Fiscal, and Exchange Rate Policy. Princeton Studies in International Finance No. 16, 1966.

Zietz, J. and R. Weichert. "A Dynamic Singular Equation System of Asset Demand." European Economic Review 32 (July 1988): 1349-57.
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Author:Zietz, Joachim
Publication:American Economist
Date:Sep 22, 1994
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