In recent years, along with the rapid growth of China's exports and foreign investments, correspondingly, in the balance of payments statement, it is shown a "double surpluses" of the current account and the capital account; in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, it is manifested as a continuous stream of foreign exchange and that the supply exceeds the demand.0 e. E0 D- i( z, H
In order to stabilize the RMB exchange rate, the central bank cannot but passively purchase a huge amount of foreign exchange, correspondingly, it will provide a huge supply of RMB, consequently increasing the monetary base.
. h k1 B# } u/ G Statistics show that the basic currency supplied in such a way has accounted for 90 percent of the total of basic currency. The independence of the monetary policy is subject to serious challenge. The too rapid growth of money supply would give rise to such problems as investment expansion, inflationary pressure and assets bubble.% s! h8 o4 p+ X5 s8 d# V
Perfecting the RMB exchange rate formation mechanism and allowing it to be more elastic make it possible to give better play to the basic role of the market in the allocation of resources; this helps improve the initiative and efficiency of financial regulation and control and thus helps strengthen and improve macro regulation and control.
( ?+ t* f7 S$ w6 U" r7 s- _ Perfecting the RMB exchange rate formation mechanism is conducive to implementation of the strategy for the sustainable development of the economy based mainly on domestic demand and to optimization of resources allocation.
" S9 {" k5 q1 d! G Experts put it frankly that if the original exchange rate formation mechanism is stuck to for a long time, it will likely affect improvement of the economic structure.
9 X' {; i5 m/ G" c) o0 c5 @1 { Firstly, it will encourage the uneven development between foreign-related departments and domestic departments.- }) L! P/ R! q# H7 Q' R
Secondly, it will affect the coordinated proportion among the three major industries (primary, secondary and tertiary).
! Y) y' ?- @8 Z1 _2 N$ t* E6 {; V Thirdly, it will hamper the normal transfer of industry from coastal areas to the inland. Inordinate stability of the exchange rate makes it possible for rough machining labor-intensive production to exist in coastal areas and to lack driving force and pressure to shift toward central and western regions.
* k6 N3 Y6 O# g. j* V" W Perfecting the RMB exchange rate formation mechanism and properly increasing the elasticity of exchange rate will increase the uncertainty of risk capital flows gains, which helps curb massive unilateral flows of capital, guard against and obviate financial risks and maintain financial stability.
0 P6 g$ g, {- W7 o" k/ |7 C Excessive rigidity of exchange rate reduces the exchange rate risks of venture capital flows, is likely to cause massive in and out of venture capital and to bring impacts on economic development and financial stability. The Mexican financial crisis in 1994 and the Asian financial crisis in 1997 were both directly associated with this.1 i* |" A* M. [( N0 k
Regarding this, Zhou Xiaochuan has a very vivid metaphor. He said: "A fixed exchange rate is like a shield in the hand when fighting, however you attack me, I will remain unmoved; if I fail to hold on, the impact will cause influence. A floating exchange rate is like a foam-rubber cushion, if you want to fight your way in, I'll react softly, ok, you've come in, but I won't let you hit me; when you want to quit, I'll give you a pinch and let you go only after you have taken a layer of your skin off."
$ _' @* b9 Z/ a+ v; b+ b Perfecting the RMB exchange rate formation mechanism facilitates the development of the foreign economy. This move helps spur the enterprise to strengthen technical innovation, management innovation and the creation of a brand name and to strengthen marketing, after-sale service, thereby fundamentally enhance the enterprise's competitiveness; it also helps maintain a basic balance between import and export and improve trading conditions.. n/ i: L2 w; L) s6 Z
Reform is a must and is imminent.& K4 m2 p( J$ t0 _! v( W+ J7 e
Experts put it frankly that if RMB exchange rate reform is delayed indefinitely, it will bring about three major risks.0 E" ?& q- D. t0 M& k
First is the risk of domestic economic bubble. If the monetary base grows too big, it will cause inflation when flowing to the commodity market; when the money flows to the capital market, it will lead to a bubble of assets. The emergence of economic bubble will aggravate the frailty of the financial system and will reduce the capability to resist monetary impacts.
$ W/ q9 U) {2 p6 o+ ^ F2 l Second is the risk of weakening the independence of monetary policy. The principle of the "Mundell ternary paradox" tells us that of the three things: full capital opening, independent monetary policy and stable exchange rate, a country can only choose two, and cannot have all three. |