When things stagnate
Goldman Sachs researchers have been hitting the history books again, trying to divine what happens to currencies when economies stagnate. Answer: Not as much as you might think
Looking at exchange rates for years before and during âstagnationâ, Goldman found that year-to-year FX volatility in such periods is lower than in normal periods. But a lot of it depends on the type of stagnation.
First, an average stagnation â a period of sub-par economic growth lasting for at least six years:
On average, the run-up to stagnations (and the early years into an episode) tends to be characterised by moderate FX appreciation. Later on, FX remains flat for a while and gradually assumes a depreciation trend during the last years of stagnation. The average initial appreciation hovers below 5%, while the ultimate depreciation tends to be smaller than 10%.
Next, a âGreat Stagnationâ â a period lasting for 10 years or more:
The initial appreciation can reach more than 20% (computed from the years prior to the stagnation) and the posterior depreciation can surpass 10 % .
What does this mean? Well is it not particularly good news for the United States.
Although the recent macroeconomic evolution of the U.S. economy lies within the bands of a typical stagnation from the growth perspective, the USD appreciation associated with the evolution of the financial shocks in recent years is well outside the typical FX stagnation paths.
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