BOX 5.1 The Mundell–Fleming model
under capital controls
In this book we assume that capital moves unhindered across borders.
This describes the current situation quite well in industrial and many other countries.
But there are still some countries, mostly in the developing world, that do not permit free movements of capital in and out.
In Tanzania,for example, citizens need to submit proof of an import contract and obtain a permit
if they want to acquire foreign currency.
The purchase or sale of currency is usually not permitted for financial investments.
As a consequence the capital account cannot really respond to interest rate differentials.
In algebraic terms k = 0 in equation (4.5).
What does that do to the FE curve?
This is best seen after solving the general FE curve, equation (4.7), for Y to obtain
Letting k = 0 to signal that capital is not permitted to respond to changes in interest rates,
the interest differential drops out of the equation and equation (1) simplifies to
FE curve under capital controls
This equation restates the current account equilibrium (equation (4.3)) we derived in Chapter 4. Obviously,
when there are no capital flows and, thus, CP = 0, the foreign exchange market can only be in equilibrium if the current account is in
equilibrium: CA = EX - IM = 0.
The FE curve under strict capital controls is a
vertical line, just as is the CA = 0 line in Chapter 4,
the position of which is determined by the real
exchange rate and world income. The reasons for
this are exactly the same as those given for why
the position of the CA = 0 line depends on R and
YWorld. See Figure 4.4 and the explanations given
there. The general macroeconomic equilibrium is
as depicted in Figure 1.
■ Can you explain why FE moves right when the
real exchange rate depreciates?
■ Can this country stimulate income by raising
government spending when the exchange rate
is fixed?