An evaluation of the uncovered interest parity failure for the Brazilian economy

Abstract

The present paper tests the validity of the uncovered interest parity (UIP) theorem using data from the Brazilian economy from 2000 to 2014. Our results endorse the empirical failure of this theorem, known in the literature as UIP Failure or Forward Premium Puzzle. The estimated coefficient of the interest rate differential in a GARCH model is negative, contradicting most of the UIP tests for emerging economies. However, using Markov switching models we found two well-defined patterns: during periods of lower exchange rate volatility the estimated coefficient becomes negative, while in high volatility periods the estimated coefficient is positive. These results are consistent with the exogenous interest rate approach in an open economy.

Keywords:
Uncovered Interest Parity; Exogenous interest rate approach; UIP failure; Interest rate theorems; Exchange rate