REAL EXCHANGE RATE AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE : THEORY AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

This paper analyses the influence of the real exchange rate (RER) on the productive structure. A contribution of this article is to sys-tematize and advance in the identification of the new transmission mechanisms through which the RER affects the productive structure. We show how these effects can be incorporated into the balance of payments constrained growth model. On the empirical level, the article assesses the association between the RER and structural change. A series of regressions was performed in a panel setting for various countries, using aggregated and sectorial databases. The estimates using the aggregated database suggest that a competitive RER fa-vours manufacturing. Regressions also indicate that a competitive RER is associated with a more diversified and complex productive structure. In turn, the estimates using a sectoral database point out that a competitive RER expands manufacturing activities, and this effect is associated with sectoral particularities.