Question

Suppose China exports TVs and uses the yuan as its currency, whereas Russia exports vodka and uses the ruble. China has a stable money supply and slow, steady technological progress in TV production, while Russia has very rapid growth in the money supply and no technological progress in vodka production. Based on this information, what would you predict for the real exchange rate (measured as bottles of vodka per TV) and the nominal exchange rate (measured as rubles per yuan)

Answer 1

The real exchange rate would result in a growth of the relative price of Chinese TVs over the price of Russian Vodka.

This is because Chinese TVs are becoming more technologically advanced, increasing both their nominal and real value, while Russian Vodka is being produced en masse, but without technological progress, decreasing both its nominal and real value.

The nominal exchange rate would result in the ruble depreciating strongly against the Yuan.

The quick growth of money supply in Russia means inflation, and this added to the loss of value of the Vodka exports, results in the decrease of nominal value for the ruble against the Yuan, which has a moderate growth in money supply (meaning moderate inflation), and benefits from the exports of a good that is appreciating (the Chinese TVs).

Step-by-step explanation: