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FOREIGN SAFE ASSET DEMAND AND THE DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
The Dollar's Secret Sauce: Why Everyone Wants a Piece of the Greenback

This paper links the U.S. dollar's exchange rate to the convenience yield foreign investors receive from holding U.S. safe assets, particularly Treasuries. They show that a widening Treasury basis, indicating a higher convenience yield for foreign investors, coincides with dollar appreciation, supporting the U.S.'s unique role as a safe asset provider and the dollar's status as a reserve currency.

Explain Like I'm Five

Scientists found that when other countries feel very safe putting their money in the U.S. "safe piggy bank," the U.S. dollar gets stronger. It's like everyone wanting your special, safe toy makes it more valuable.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Limitations

Restrictive assumptions
The model assumes log-normality and symmetry which can be restrictive assumptions in the context of exchange rate dynamics.
Limited generalizability
The empirical analysis focuses primarily on the USD, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other currencies.
Data frequency
The paper relies on quarterly data, potentially obscuring higher-frequency dynamics that could be relevant.
Identification strategy
The identification of convenience yield shocks relies on an exclusion restriction in the VAR, which could be debated.

Rating Explanation

This paper presents a novel theory and compelling empirical evidence linking the USD's value to the convenience yield derived from holding U.S. safe assets. While there are some limitations, the research is strong and contributes significantly to the literature.

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Topic Hierarchy

Domain: Social Sciences
Subfield: Finance

File Information

Original Title: FOREIGN SAFE ASSET DEMAND AND THE DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE
Uploaded: July 14, 2025 at 07:03 AM
Privacy: Public