The Fisher hypothesis: a multi-country analysis

Abstract

There is a long tradition of testing the Fisher hypothesis on the long run relationship between inflation and nominal interest rates. In this study, we examine the before tax strong version of the Fisher hypothesis for a sample of countries, in an attempt to extend the available literature. Using an error correction modeling approach suggested by Moazzarni [30] which allows for direct estimates of the long run coefflcients, we show that the strong version of the Fisher hypothesis tends to hold for more than half of the countries under study. In addition to that we point to the fact that under complete financial deregulation, there is a higher chance for the Fisher hypothesis to hold in line with the suggestion of Olekalns [33].