The transmission of unconventional monetary policy to the emerging markets

Papers in this volume were prepared for a meeting of senior officials from central banks held at the Bank for International Settlements on 6-7 March 2014.

Highly accommodative monetary policies in the major advanced economies and the questions about the exit from such policies have created major challenges for policymakers in emerging market economies (EMEs). Quite a few of EMEs that experienced rapid capital inflows and strong currency appreciation pressures during 2010-12 saw a sharp reversal in episodes of market volatility from May 2013 to February 2014.

This meeting of Deputy Governors focussed on three main questions: (i) How can external monetary conditions become a source of risks to monetary and financial stability in EMEs? (ii) How should central banks respond to such shocks? (iii) And, can there be a greater international role for emerging market currencies? A key conclusion from the discussion is that asset prices and interest rates have become more correlated globally during the period of unprecedented monetary easing by advanced economies. One major worry was the risk of an abrupt reversal of capital inflows to EMEs. Central banks face difficult policy dilemmas in preserving financial stability while pursuing their monetary policy goals. It is hard for EME monetary authorities to counter a prolonged period of very low long-term interest rates and increased risk-taking in global financial markets.

JEL classification: E52, F31, F42, G12, G15