Social Sciences and Humanities Open (Jan 2024)
The effect of oil price and macroeconomic factors on inflation rate in Azerbaijan: The application of time-varying coefficient VAR model and time-varying Granger causality analysis
Abstract
This study analyzes inflation dynamics in Azerbaijan, focusing on the impact of oil price fluctuations and macroeconomic variables using advanced econometric methods, specifically a time-varying coefficient vector autoregressive model and time-varying Granger causality analysis. The research identifies significant inflation inertia, where past inflation rates shape future expectations. The relationship between oil prices and inflation has evolved, with contractionary policies mitigating the inflationary effects of rising oil prices after 2011, but oil price volatility and external inflationary pressures resurfacing post-2021. Azerbaijan's exchange rate policy reduced inflation by lowering import prices before 2017, but its effectiveness has since weakened. Fiscal policy, particularly changes in M2, has played a key role in inflation dynamics, with contractionary measures after 2015 reducing inflation, while expansionary policies in 2022 reignited inflation. The study also shows that growth in the non-oil sector helps alleviate inflation, though its influence has diminished over time. The study concludes that effective policy measures are essential to manage inflation inertia, reduce dependence on oil revenues, and strengthen economic resilience in a rapidly changing global landscape.
