Exchange rate and inflation dynamics in Kenya: Does the threshold level matter?

Abstract

This study empirically examined the threshold effect of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) on inflation in Kenya, while augmenting the exchange rate depreciation in the monetary policy rate using the Taylor rule. The monthly time series data spanning January 2005 to November 2023 was collected for analysis, in which the non-linear threshold autoregressive (TAR) model was employed as the main econometric model. This study's ERPT results reveal that, exchange rate depreciation has positive and significant effect on inflation only when it raises above the monthly threshold level of 0.51 %. In contrast, the Taylor rule analysis results reveal that the exchange rate depreciation has a positive and significant effect the monetary policy rate regardless of the threshold level of 0.67 %. Therefore, keeping domestic currency depreciation below a monthly growth rate of 0.51 % will control the pass-through effect on inflation, and the exchange rate depreciation at any level should always act as a reaction function for the monetary policy rate setting. This study also found that the relationship between exchange rate depreciation and inflation, as well as monetary policy rate is non-linear, which implies a greater pass-through effect when exchange rate depreciation is high. Therefore, we recommend the monetary authority in Kenya to pay attention to the depreciation of the exchange rate depreciation at any level when adjusting the policy rate to tame inflation.

Keywords

• Exchange rate
• Inflation
• Threshold auto-regressive model
• Kenya