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The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana

This study examines the relationship between foreign exchange reserve, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana over the period 1995-2020. The period covered contains recent data on level of foreign exchange reserves through global events like Covid-19 pandemic in which significant drawdowns in...

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Main Author: Israel, Bofelo
Other Authors: Majoni, Akios
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Finance and Tax 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Israel, Bofelo
author2 Majoni, Akios
author_browse Israel, Bofelo
Majoni, Akios
author_facet Majoni, Akios
Israel, Bofelo
author_sort Israel, Bofelo
collection Thesis
description This study examines the relationship between foreign exchange reserve, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana over the period 1995-2020. The period covered contains recent data on level of foreign exchange reserves through global events like Covid-19 pandemic in which significant drawdowns in foreign reserves were experienced and not covered in prior studies. Secondary time series data was sourced from Bank of Botswana financial statistics bulletin and a linear regression was run for two models using R studio statistical software. Unit root and correlation tests were run on the data to ensure the variables were stationery and error terms correlation was eliminated in the time series. Regression equation showed that the relationship between foreign exchange reserves and inflation was negative. Similarly, the second regression revealed that the correlation between foreign exchange reserves and foreign exchange rates was negative. Empirical results further revealed that foreign exchange reserves have no statistically significant impact on inflation and exchange rates in Botswana. The statistically insignificant relationship results between the variables implies that foreign exchange reserves have not significantly influenced exchange rate and inflation which may be due to sterilization by the central bank, therefore, other factors may be responsible for changes in exchange rate and inflation locally. This may indicate that the monetary policy framework which requires foreign exchange reserves have served the country well as it maintained a stable exchange rate and did not stir inflation. However, monetary authorities should note that the current framework may not be sustainable given the tremendous pressure that foreign reserved faced in recent years and a move to a floating exchange regime should be considered as a long-term policy goal. The negative correlation of foreign reserves with inflation and exchange rate further suggest to the monetary authorities that Botswana's economy may be influenced by endogenous monetary policies rather than external variables. The relationship between exchange rates and foreign reserves is consistent with elasticity approach and economic theory of modern mercantilism which predict a negative relationship between the two variables. This may provide monetary authorities and policy makers with a framework that explains the link of Botswana's foreign reserves and exchange rates.
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38020 The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana Israel, Bofelo Majoni, Akios Corporate Finance and Valuations This study examines the relationship between foreign exchange reserve, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana over the period 1995-2020. The period covered contains recent data on level of foreign exchange reserves through global events like Covid-19 pandemic in which significant drawdowns in foreign reserves were experienced and not covered in prior studies. Secondary time series data was sourced from Bank of Botswana financial statistics bulletin and a linear regression was run for two models using R studio statistical software. Unit root and correlation tests were run on the data to ensure the variables were stationery and error terms correlation was eliminated in the time series. Regression equation showed that the relationship between foreign exchange reserves and inflation was negative. Similarly, the second regression revealed that the correlation between foreign exchange reserves and foreign exchange rates was negative. Empirical results further revealed that foreign exchange reserves have no statistically significant impact on inflation and exchange rates in Botswana. The statistically insignificant relationship results between the variables implies that foreign exchange reserves have not significantly influenced exchange rate and inflation which may be due to sterilization by the central bank, therefore, other factors may be responsible for changes in exchange rate and inflation locally. This may indicate that the monetary policy framework which requires foreign exchange reserves have served the country well as it maintained a stable exchange rate and did not stir inflation. However, monetary authorities should note that the current framework may not be sustainable given the tremendous pressure that foreign reserved faced in recent years and a move to a floating exchange regime should be considered as a long-term policy goal. The negative correlation of foreign reserves with inflation and exchange rate further suggest to the monetary authorities that Botswana's economy may be influenced by endogenous monetary policies rather than external variables. The relationship between exchange rates and foreign reserves is consistent with elasticity approach and economic theory of modern mercantilism which predict a negative relationship between the two variables. This may provide monetary authorities and policy makers with a framework that explains the link of Botswana's foreign reserves and exchange rates. 2023-07-04T12:23:03Z 2023-07-04T12:23:03Z 2023 2023-07-04T12:22:30Z Master Thesis Masters MCom http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38020 eng application/pdf Department of Finance and Tax Faculty of Commerce
spellingShingle Corporate Finance and Valuations
Israel, Bofelo
The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana
thesis_degree_str Master's
title The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana
title_full The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana
title_fullStr The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana
title_short The relationship between foreign exchange reserves, Pula exchange rate and inflation in Botswana
title_sort relationship between foreign exchange reserves pula exchange rate and inflation in botswana
topic Corporate Finance and Valuations
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38020
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AT israelbofelo relationshipbetweenforeignexchangereservespulaexchangerateandinflationinbotswana