An Empirical Investigation Into The Relationship Between Exchange Rate Volatility And Economic Growth In Liberia (1980 To 2012)

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between the exchange rate volatility and economic growth in Liberia from 1980 to 2012. Empirical literature shows conflicting results. The study used the generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model to estimate volatility. The order of integration of the variables was tested and the variables were found not to have the same order of integration. The bounds test confirmed co-integration between GDP growth, exchange rate volatility, exports, imports and foreign direct investment. The Autoregresive distributed lag model was then used to estimate the short and long run dynamics. The study used the coefficients from the ARDL model to calculate the long-run multipliers. The multiplier effect shows that devaluation (depreciation) of the domestic currency increases the exchange rate by – 0.02718 percent, while foreign direct investment increases at 0.007973 percent and h or volatility reduces at -0.01084 percent in economic growth. Finally, the Granger causality test showed bidirectional causality between the exchange rate volatility and exports, causality from economic growth to the real exchange rate volatility.