About this work
A large euro area current account surplus need not imply an undervalued currency. Jonathan Fortun and Robin Brooks argue that persistent economic slack can suppress imports and inflate the headline external balance. Their November 2018 calculation turns the surplus into a deficit after adjusting for the economic cycle, pointing to possible euro overvaluation rather than an automatic case for appreciation.
Abstract
A large euro area current account surplus need not imply an undervalued currency. Jonathan Fortun and Robin Brooks argue that persistent economic slack can suppress imports and inflate the headline external balance. Their November 2018 calculation turns the surplus into a deficit after adjusting for the economic cycle, pointing to possible euro overvaluation rather than an automatic case for appreciation.
Cite this work
Jonathan Fortun, Robin Brooks (2018). Global Macro Views: Output Gaps and Euro Fair Value. Institute of International Finance.