Inflation Stabilization and BOP Crises in Developing Countries
Inflation Stabilization and BOP Crises in Developing Countries
Loading...
Files
Publication or External Link
Date
1999
Authors
Calvo, Guillermo A.
Végh, Carlos A.
Advisor
Citation
Calvo, Guillermo A. and Carlos A. Végh, "Inflation Stabilization and BOP Crises in Developing Countries" in Taylor, John B. and Michael Woodford, Eds., Handbook of Macroeconomics, New York: Elsevier, 1999.
DRUM DOI
Abstract
High and persistent inflation has been one of the distinguishing macroeconomic characteristics of many developing countries - particularly in Latin America - since the end of World War II. Pazos (1972) coined the term "chronic inflation" to refer the this phenomenon. In his view, chronic inflation is quite a different creature from the much more spectacular hyperinflations studied by Cagan (1956). First, unlike hyperinflations whose duration is measured in terms of months, chronic inflation may last for decades. Second, countries learn how to live with high and persistent inflation by creating various indexation mechanisms which, in turn, tend to perpetuate the inflationary process. As a result, inflation does not have an inherent propensity to accelerate and, if it does, soon reaches a new plateau.