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Emerging markets in Europe: Real and financial integration with the European Union. IADB, Washington April 10, 2003 Fabrizio Coricelli University of Siena, CEU and CEPR. Sudden stops in CEECs: exception. Two cases of sudden stops. Czech Republic in 1997 and Bulgaria in 1996-97
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Emerging markets in Europe:Real and financial integration with the European Union IADB, Washington April 10, 2003 Fabrizio Coricelli University of Siena, CEU and CEPR
Sudden stops in CEECs: exception • Two cases of sudden stops. Czech Republic in 1997 and Bulgaria in 1996-97 • It would be interesting to compare with experience of LAC to highlight the causes and effects of sudden stops
Other CEECs • CEECs were able to ride smoothly through the Russian crisis and the current slowdown of major industrial economies. • Gdp growth resumed rather quickly after 1998 • Current account deficit remained large • Foreign bank loans were cut also to CEECs, but only temporarily, and less than for other EMs. • FDIs remained strong
CEECs not very different from other EMs • High volatility of main macroeconomic variables • Debt to Gdp indicators • High share of foreign debt in total debt
…..volatility • Not due to terms of trade volatility (trade diversified) • Real exchange rate more volatile: massive reallocation from tradable to non-tradable sectors • Financial sector (still underdeveloped)?
Key favourable factors • Parallel growth of trade and financial integration • High degree of trade openness, and especially trade integration with the EU • Relatively large tax base • “Anchor” of EU accession (political economy factors as well)
Trade integration and financial flows • Parallel growth of trade and financial links with EU. • Bulow and Rogoff (1989) channel: trade openness increases incentives of borrowers to service their debt. • Plus, better information flows. • A recent paper by the Bundesbank finds a significant effect on bank loans of German banks of the trade integration with Germany
Example: Hungary • Hungary, the country with the highest ratio of debt to GDP inherited from the pre-reform regime, that did not restructure the debt. • Debt to GDP declined slightly, but debt to exports was sharply reduced. • Spectacular increase in trade openness. Ratio of exports to GDP more than doubled in 7 years.
Intra-industry trade • Trade openness tends to increase specialization and output volatility. • Much less true if trade is intra-industry (Smithian division of labor, and “external” economies of scale) • Implication: dependence on the EU business cycle more and more important, but • More diversified industrial structure
EU “anchor” and Institutional reforms • Importing institutions (against Rodrik’s view) • May not be optimal, but more credible • “Credibility bonus” • Accession: anchor for market expectations • Interest rate convergence • Expectations are of a fast entry in Eurozone
Risks ahead and open research agenda • So far underdeveloped capital markets • After entry in EU (next year): • Full liberalization of K-flows • Short term K-flows bound to increase? • Exchange rate policy? • Fiscal rules?