This note evaluates whether a New Open Economy model can reproduce qualitatively the observed fluctuations of the tradeable and nontradeable sectors of the U.S. economy. The answer is positive: both in the model and in the data, the standard deviations of tradeable inflation, output, and employment are significantly higher than the standard deviations of the corresponding nontradeable sector variables. The key role in generating this result is played by the greater responsiveness of tradeable sector variables to monetary shocks.

This paper analyzes exchange-rate dynamics following a money-based disinflation under different degrees of exchange-rate pass-through. Using a microfounded dynamic general equilibrium model with imperfect competition and nominal rigidities, it is shown that a monetary slowdown causes an appreciation of the exchange rate and a short-run fall in employment. Varying the degree of pass-through, however, significantly alters the magnitudes of these effects. As the degree of pass-through is reduced, the extent of the short-run appreciation of the exchange rate increases and the short-run impact of the disinflation on employment falls.

We show how introducing home bias in government spending in the redux model generates quasi neutrality of fiscal policy shocks. We offer an intuitive explanation for this result and we stress its policy implications.