Resumen This paper is the first to construct bilateral sector-specific real effective exchange rate indices (TCRSB) for 19 manufacturing sectors in Colombia, which consider sectoral differences in terms of commercial partners and relative cost differences. These indices are used to determine the importance of the real effective exchange rate (REER) to explain sectoral export and import dynamics over the period 2006 to 2013. The results indicate a significant heterogeneity between the sectors in terms of changes in the TCRSB; the importance of the TCRSB to explain changes in Colombia’s manufacturing trade flows; and relevant differences in the price elasticity of the distinct sectors. When comparing these results with those obtained when using aggregate REER indices (i.e. a bilateral and sectoral REER index), we find that neither of these improves the performance of the TCRSB. © 2018, Banco de la Republica. All rights reserved.
Área temática F14 - Comercio: estudios empíricos F19 - Comercio: Otros F31 - Tipos de cambio O11 - Análisis macroeconómico del desarrollo económico