Deviations From Uncovered Interest Parity : A Global Guide to Where the Action Is

Ex-post deviations from uncovered interest parity (UIP) - realized differences between dollar returns on identical assets of different currencies - equal the real interest differential plus real exchange rate growth. Among industrialized countries, UIP deviations are largely explained by unanticipated real exchange rate growth, but among developing countries, real interest differentials are "where the action is." This observation is due to the greater variability of inflation in developing countries, but may also stem from higher and more variable risks and capital controls in these countries. Also, among developing countries with moderate inflation, offsetting comovements of real interest differentials and real exchange growth support the sticky-price hypothesis.