Exchange Control

Since I first published Management of Foreign Exchange Risk (Lexington Books, 1978), financial innovation-spurred, in part, by exploding volatility in currency prices-has revolutionized the theory and praxis of foreign exchange risk management. Old-fashioned forward contracts have surrendered market share to currency swaps and options as well as to their perpetually multiplying derivatives. Interestingly, forex derivatives now provide a low cost and highly efficient method of transferring risk from the firms that are exposed to risk but which would rather not be (i. e. , risk-hedgers) to those which are not exposed but which-in exchange for a fee-would assume some exposure to risk (i. e. , risk bearers). Perhaps more importantly, foreign exchange risk management, which was once a fairly mechanical task confmed to the international treasury function, is now permeating global strategic management. Indeed, since the demise of the Bretton Woods system of pegged exchange rates, the cost of forex hedging instruments has fallen so dramatically that firms can readily avail themselves of hedging products which can reduce unwanted risk, thereby potentially gaining a competitive advantage over rivals that do not. Management and Control of Foreign Exchange Risk has grown out of a fundamental revision of my earlier work published almost 20 years ago. In the process, my thinking about risk and its mathematics has greatly benefitted from my association with John Cozzolino and Charles Tapiero.

Part I of this volume provides an assessment of the lessons that Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) may draw from the past experience of OECD countries with exchange controls. Part II describes the regimes of exchange controls in five CEECs and addresses issues of direct policy concern to them.

Foreign Exchange Control in China lays out comprehensively the compliance requirements, procedures and documentation for the conduct of foreign exchange transactions in China. Written in an easy-to-read format, the book is designed to help readers understand and handle the various complicated aspects and requirements of foreign exchange control in China. Compliance requirements for the current and capital accounts, foreign exchange settlements, use and administration of foreign exchange accounts, foreign debts and guarantees, import, export, service trade, bonded zones and qualified foreign institutional investors are closely examined with a list of the procedures to follow and applicable documentation provided. Contents are specially included to assist foreign investors deal with foreign exchange requirements whilst operating in China, including those for capital movements and remittance of profits and dividends out of China. Foreign Exchange Control in China is an indispensable guide to foreign investors and multinational companies as well as to lawyers, financial, accounting and tax professionals. This title forms part of the Asia Business Law Series. The Asia Business Law Series is published in cooperation with CCH Asia and provides updated and reliable practical guidelines, legislation and case law, in order to help practitioners, policy makers and scholars understand how business is conducted in the rapidly growing Asian market. This book was originally published by CCH Asia as the loose-leaf Foreign Exchange Control in China

This paper considers the effect of exchange and capital controls on trade in the gravity-equation framework, in which bilateral exports depend on the distance between countries, the countries’ size and wealth, tariff barriers, and exchange and capital controls. The extent of exchange and capital controls is measured by unique indices. In view of the degree to which countries have liberalized their exchange systems, controls on current payments and transfers are found to be a minor impediment to trade, while capital controls significantly reduce exports into developing and transition economies. Thus, further capital account liberalization could significantly foster trade.