Sobreapreciação cambial no Brasil: Estimativa, causas e consequências (1994-2008)

This article analyzes the exchange rate misalignment in Brazil in the period between 1994 and the early 2008, exploring its causes and consequences. The method used was to adjust the exchange rate according to the economic fundamentals. The estimations led to an expected long-term exchange rate, and the deviations of the current exchange rate in relation to the estimations allowed the calculation of the exchange rate misalignment in Brazil. This shows that the exchange rate was overvalued along almost the entire period of study, and that it was more intense after the first quarter of 2005. The article also discusses the main causes of the exchange rate misalignment in Brazil, focusing on the recent period. In this regard, the factors that stand out are related to the inflows via capital and financial account, to the high domestic interest rate and to the administration of inflation. Finally, the article discusses the consequences of the overvalued exchange rate by the Brazilian economy, highlighting the negative effects on the industry, on the balance of current account and on the trade balance structure.