Working Paper

The Equilibrium Value of the Euro/$ US Exchange Rate: An Evaluation of Research

Jerome L. Stein
CESifo, Munich, 2001

CESifo Working Paper No. 525

The ultimate object of research concerning the Euro is to answer the following questions: (#1) What is the equilibrium trajectory of the nominal euro, measured as dollars/euro? (#2) To what extent has the equilibrium nominal euro been determined by relative prices (PPP), and to what extent has it been determined by real fundamentals? (#3) How important have been the transitory factors in affecting the value of the euro? (#4) Is the euro currently undervalued, and by what criteria? Our evaluation of recent research concerning the answers to these questions, is the subject of this paper.

Keywords: Euro, NATREX, BEER, equilibrium exchange rates, international capital flows, misalignment