How to Calculate Exchange Rate

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CENTRAL BANK OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY THE REAL EXCHANGE RATE DEFINITIONS AND CALCULATIONS Ahmet N. Kıpıcı Mehtap Kesriyeli RESEARCH DEPARTMENT Publication No: 97/1 ANKARA January 1997 1. Introduction Basically, the real exchange rate can be defined as the nominal exchange rate that takes the inflation differentials among the countries into account. Its importance stems from the fact that it can be used as an indicator of competitiveness in the foreign trade of a country. The importance of the real exchange rate for a Central Bank is related with the effects of the real exchange rates on the Central Bank balance sheet and, in turn, with its ability to conduct a prudent monetary policy. Any changes in the real exchange rates would lead to fluctuations in short term capital flows. These fluctuations would then have an affect on the Central Bank’s net foreign assets. The changes in the volume of net foreign assets would lead to changes in the volume of currency in circulation on the liability side of the balance sheet. Thus, the changes in the volume currency in circulation would necessitate the management of the liquidity fluctuations in the economy through the utilization of the monetary policy tools by the Central Bank, whose final objective is price stability. Because of the important role it plays in an economy as mentioned above, the real exchange rate has been one of the most debated issues both in theory and the practice. This study aims at summarizing the existing definitions, calculation methods and interpretations of the real exchange rates. Within this context, the first part of the study will introduce different definitions of the real exchange rates. The calculation methods will be discussed in the second part. Finally, several points that should be taken into account in the interpretation of the real exchange rate movements will be

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