Does unregulated exchange rate asymmetrically affect trade balance? An empirical evidence from Somalia

Somalia has been a stateless nation for over two decades, where government institutions have been destroyed and malfunctioned, including the central bank. Consequently, this ruled out the control and regulation of the money supply and exchange rate by the central bank. This study investigates the effect of unregulated exchange rates on the trade balance in Somalia over the period 1984-2018. Using the nonlinear ARDL model, the results show the presence of asymmetric long-term effects of unregulated exchange rates on the trade balance. The study finds that currency depreciation worsens trade balance both in the long- and short-run, while long-term currency appreciation has a significant impact on trade balance but significant positive short-run effects on the trade balance. Overall, the study confirms the absence of the Marshall-Lerner condition and the J-curve effect, validated by several econometric methodologies for robustness. Our study suggests that reforms in the exchange rate system and monetary policies can restore the credibility and stability of the Somali shilling, which can boost trade and investment.