Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

12-2007

Abstract

Reflecting the small open nature of its economy, Singapore has adopted an exchange rate-centered monetary policy framework since 1981. The exchange rate regime in Singapore is an intermediate regime that follows the basket-band-crawl system. With this managed float system, the MAS has successfully deterred speculators from attacking the domestic currency for most of the past three decades. At the same time, the flexibility accorded by the managed float system aided Singapore in escaping from the 1997–1998 Asian crisis relatively unscathed. In order to advance our understanding of the hitherto successful operation of Singapore's exchange rate policy, we examine the following three aspects of its implementation: (i) the use of the exchange rate instead of the interest rate as the key monetary policy instrument; (ii) the management of the currency basket in terms of foreign exchange intervention operations; and (iii) regulating the level of domestic liquidity alongside exchange rate policy. This paper also provides some insights on the challenges ahead that potentially face policymakers when implementing Singapore's exchange rate policy.

Keywords

Exchange rate targeting, intervention operations, domestic liquidity

Discipline

Asian Studies | Economic Policy | Macroeconomics

Research Areas

Macroeconomics

Publication

Singapore Economic Review

Volume

52

Issue

3

First Page

445

Last Page

458

ISSN

0217-5908

Identifier

10.1142/s0217590807002701

Publisher

World Scientific

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217590807002701

Download

Share

COinS