The Impact of Exchange Rate on Firm Performance: Evidence from Korean Firms

This article analyzes the role of exchange rate in explaining firm investment between 2006 and 2014, considering both export and import channels as possible factors along with other firm-level characteristics based on the Census on Establishments. Using the detailed information on exports and imports from the data, we are able to capture the cost and revenue channel more precisely compared to the previous existing literature. The empirical analysis shows that the export channel appears to be insignificant as opposed to conventional wisdom. However, the import channel is significant and shows that currency appreciation may not necessarily decrease a firm's investment level.