Is a G-3 Target Zone on Target for Emerging Markets?

With many emerging market currencies tied to the U.S. dollar either implicitly or explicitly, movements in the exchange values of the currencies of major countries–in particular the prolonged appreciation of the U.S. dollar vis-a-vis the yen and the deutsche mark in advance of Asia’s troubles–is argued to have worsened the competitive position of many emerging market economies. One solution to reducing destabilizing shocks emanating from abroad, the argument runs, would be to reduce the variability of the G-3 currencies by establishing target bands.1 This paper examines the argument for such a target zone from an emerging market perspective but will be silent on the costs and benefits for industrial countries.