9.4 Derivation of the AA Curve

The AA curve is derived by transferring information described in the money market and foreign exchange market models onto a new diagram to show the relationship between the exchange rate and equilibrium GNP. (At this point we will substitute GNP for its virtually equivalent measure, GDP, as a determinant of real money demand.) Since both models describe supply and demand for money, which is an asset, I’ll refer to the two markets together as the asset market. The foreign exchange market, depicted in the top part of Figure 9.4 "Derivation of the AA Curve", plots the rates of return on domestic U.S. assets (RoR_$) and foreign British assets (RoR_£). (See Chapter 5 "Interest Rate Parity", Section 5.3 "Forex Equilibrium with the Rate of Return Diagram" for a complete description.) The domestic U.S. money market, in the lower quadrant, plots the real U.S. money supply (M_$^S/P_$) and real money demand (L(i_$, Y_$)). The asset market equilibriums have several exogenous variables that determine the positions of the curves and the outcome of the model. These exogenous variables are the foreign British interest rate (i_£) and the expected future exchange rate (E_$/£^e), which influence the foreign British rate of return (RoR_£); the U.S. money supply (M_$^S) and domestic U.S. price level (P_$), which influence real money supply; and U.S. GNP (Y_$), which influences real money demand. The endogenous variables in the asset model are the domestic interest rates (i_$) and the exchange rate (E_$/£). See Table 9.2 "Asset Market (Money + Forex)" for easy reference.

Figure 9.4 Derivation of the AA Curve

Initially, let’s assume GNP is at a value in the market given by Y_$¹. We need to remember that all the other exogenous variables that affect the asset market are also at some initial level such as i_£¹, E_$/£^e1, M_$ ^S1, and P_$¹. The real money demand function with GNP level Y_$¹ intersects with real money supply at point G₁ in the money market diagram determining the interest rate i_$¹. The interest rate in turn determines RoR_$¹, which intersects with RoR_£ at point G₂, determining the equilibrium exchange rate E_$/£¹. These two values are transferred to the lowest diagram at point G, establishing one point on the AA curve (Y_$¹, E_$/£¹).

Next, suppose GNP rises, for some unstated reason, from Y_$¹ to Y_$, ceteris paribus. The ceteris paribus assumption means that all exogenous variables in the model remain fixed. Since the increase in GNP raises real money demand, L(i_$, Y_$), it shifts out to L(i_$, Y_$²). The equilibrium shifts to point H₁, raising the equilibrium interest rate to i_$². The RoR_$ line shifts right with the interest rate, determining a new equilibrium in the Forex at point H₂ with equilibrium exchange rate E_$/£². These two values are then transferred to the diagram below at point H, establishing a second point on the AA curve (Y_$², E_$/£²).

The line drawn through points G and H on the lower diagram in Figure 9.4 "Derivation of the AA Curve" is called the AA curve. The AA curve plots an equilibrium exchange rate for every possible GNP level that may prevail, ceteris paribus. Stated differently, the AA curve is the combination of exchange rates and GNP levels that maintain equilibrium in the asset market, ceteris paribus. We can think of it as the set of aggregate asset equilibriums.

A Note about Equilibriums

If the economy were at a point off the AA curve, like at I in the lower diagram, the GNP level is at Y_$¹ and the exchange rate is E_$/£². This corresponds to point I in the upper diagram where RoR_{£ >} RoR_$. In the Forex model, when foreign assets have a higher rate of return than domestic assets, investors respond by buying pounds in exchange for dollars in the foreign exchange market. This leads to a depreciation of the dollar and an increase in E_$/£. This continues until RoR_£ = RoR_$ at point G. For all points below the AA curve, RoR_{£ >} RoR_$; therefore, the behavior of investors would cause an upward adjustment toward the AA curve from any point like I to a point like G.

Similarly, at a point such as J, above the DD curve, the GNP level is at Y₂ and the exchange rate is E_$/£¹. This corresponds to point J in the upper diagram where RoR_$ > RoR_£ and the rate of return on dollar assets is greater than the rate of return abroad. In the Forex model, when U.S. assets have a higher rate of return than foreign assets, investors respond by buying dollars in exchange for pounds in the foreign exchange market. This leads to an appreciation of the dollar and a decrease in E_$/£. This continues until RoR_£= RoR_$ at point H. For all points above the AA curve, RoR_$ > RoR_£; therefore, the behavior of investors would cause a downward adjustment to the AA curve from a point like J to a point like H.

Figure 9.5 A 3-D AA Curve

As with the DD curve, it is useful to think of the AA curve as a river flowing through a valley. (See the 3-D diagram in Figure 9.5 "A 3-D AA Curve".) The hills rise up both above and below. Just as gravity will move a drop of water down the hill to the river valley, in much the same way, investor behavior will move the exchange rate up or down to the lowest point lying on the AA curve.

Key Takeaways

• The AA curve plots an equilibrium exchange rate level for every possible GNP value that may prevail, ceteris paribus.
• Every point on an AA curve represents an equilibrium value in the money-Forex market.
• The AA curve is negatively sloped because an increase in the real GNP lowers the equilibrium exchange rate in the money-Forex model.

Exercise

1. Jeopardy Questions. As in the popular television game show, you are given an answer to a question and you must respond with the question. For example, if the answer is “a tax on imports,” then the correct question is “What is a tariff?”

   1. This is what has happened to its GNP if an economy’s exchange rate and GNP combination move downward along a downward-sloping AA curve.
   2. Of greater than, less than, or equal to, this is how the rate of return on domestic assets compares to the rate of return on foreign assets when the economy has an exchange rate and GNP combination that places it above the AA curve.
   3. Of greater than, less than, or equal to, this is how the rate of return on domestic assets compares to the rate of return on foreign assets when the economy has an exchange rate and GNP combination that places it on the AA curve.
   4. The equilibriums along an AA curve satisfy this condition.