A Theory of Capital Controls as Dynamic Terms-of-Trade Manipulation

S-Tier
Journal: Journal of Political Economy
Year: 2014
Volume: 122
Issue: 1
Pages: 77 - 128

Authors (3)

Arnaud Costinot (not in RePEc) Guido Lorenzoni (Northwestern University) Iván Werning (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We develop a theory of capital controls as dynamic terms-of-trade manipulation. We study an infinite-horizon endowment economy with two countries. One country chooses taxes on international capital flows in order to maximize the welfare of its representative agent, while the other country is passive. We show that a country growing faster than the rest of the world has incentives to promote domestic savings by taxing capital inflows or subsidizing capital outflows. Although our theory of capital controls emphasizes interest rate manipulation, the pattern of borrowing and lending, per se, is irrelevant.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/674425
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25