Financial Depth and Exchange Rate Volatility

Abstract

It is empirically well established that financial depth increases the power of the financial system and helps both government and the private sector to have access to adequate funds without a noticeable change in asset prices and exchange rates. Exchange rate uncertainty is considered one of the many factors that affect financial market performance. In this study, we try to determine the short-run and long-run effects of exchange rate volatility on financial depth in 26 selected countries, classified as developed, developing, and emerging economies over the period 1980-2011. Our findings indicate that exchange rate volatility has short-run and long-run effects in the majority of countries in this study. We found for 16 countries out of 26, financial depth responds significantly to exchange rate volatility (nine positive, seven negative). Furthermore, using the bounds testing approach shows that exchange rate volatility has significant impact on financial deepening in 20 out of 26 countries in the short run. The results show that despite similar classification and grouping, the estimated results could be very country specific depending on each country’s particular characteristics. We suggest that for every country, it is crucial to choose and implement appropriate financial market and exchange rate policies.