Inflation and openness in India: An asymmetric approach

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamic relationship between inflation and openness from 1970 to 2014 in the Indian context. In the first of its kind, this paper investigates the relationship within a nonlinear framework by employing NARDL cointegration test due to Shin, Yu, and Greenwood Nimmo (2014). The empirical results show that there is asymmetry in the relationship between openness and inflation both in short-run as well as in long-run. However, overall a positive relation (though weak) holds between inflation and openness and hence refutes well known Romer (1993) hypothesis that inflation falls with openness. The results further showed a positive relation between inflation and other variables in the study. The overall response of inflation towards the positive and negative changes in explanatory variables differed significantly.