Exchange rate determination under interest rate rules

We propose a theory of exchange rate determination under interest rate rules in a two-country model. We first show that simple interest rate feedback rules can determine a unique and stable equilibrium without any explicit reaction to the nominal exchange rate. We characterize how the behavior of the exchange rate and of the terms of trade depends in a critical way on the monetary regime chosen, though not necessarily on monetary shocks. We give a simple account of exchange rate volatility in terms of monetary policy rules, we provide an explanation of the relation between nominal exchange rate volatility and macroeconomic variability in terms of the monetary regime adopted by monetary authorities. (C) 2008 Elsevier Lid. All rights reserved.