Exchange rate and pricing behavior: Comparison of Taiwan with Japan for manufacturing industries

This paper investigates a theoretical model that explains the relationship between exchange rate and profit when it takes the effect of exchange rate on both input and output prices into account. Using the panel data of 19 two-digit Taiwanese and 17 two-digit Japanese manufacturing industries over the period of 1984-1994, the empirical evidence shows that a higher degree of net external exposure in Taiwan than it in Japan. The empirical results also suggest that an appreciation of home currency, industries of Taiwan take advantage of the appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar, enjoying a reduction in the price of imported inputs into production. As far as this study shows, however, the merit to imported inputs of a strong Japanese Yen has not been confirmed in Japan.