Does the real interest parity hypothesis hold? Evidence for developed and emerging markets

We present empirical evidence on the real interest parity hypothesis for a set of emerging and developed countries. This is done by carrying out a set of unit-root tests on the real interest differentials with respect to the US. Our results support the hypothesis of a rapid reversion towards a zero differential for developed countries and towards a positive one for emerging markets. Mean reversion is faster for emerging market economies. We also find that this adjustment tends to be highly asymmetric and markedly different for developed and emerging markets. Our evidence reveals a high degree of market integration for developed countries and highlights the importance of risk premia for emerging markets.