Dynamics of the Real Exchange Rate, Inflation, and Output Growth: The Case of Malawi

This paper investigates the temporal causality and dynamics of real exchange rate, inflation, and output growth in Malawi, controlling for monetary growth and foreign exchange accumulation. The relationships among these variables are examined using quarterly data and the bounds testing approach to cointegration analysis. A long run relationship among the variables is observed, with the real exchange rate as the dependent variable, which is found responsive, in the long run, to the growth rate of output but not to inflation. Analysis of short-run dynamics reveals that the real exchange rate was influenced by output growth and inflation. The Granger causality analysis in a multivariate setting points to causation running from the real exchange rate to inflation and from each of these to output growth. The lagged error correction term, where included, emerged significant, providing evidence for the presence of long-run causality running interactively through it from the other variables as a group to the real exchange rate. Taken together, the results indicate the relevance of domestic economic activity, monetary policy, and foreign exchange availability for the evolution of the real exchange rate, which, in turn, is observed to have played a role in influencing domestic inflation and output growth in Malawi