Mahdie Rezagholizade; Malihe keyvanpor
Abstract
One important aspect of financial development in oil-exporting countries is how to allocate oil income during periods of oil price fluctuations. Financial development in these countries affects their current accounts in two ways: directly through the impact on savings and investment and indirectly ...
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One important aspect of financial development in oil-exporting countries is how to allocate oil income during periods of oil price fluctuations. Financial development in these countries affects their current accounts in two ways: directly through the impact on savings and investment and indirectly through the impact on the relationship of oil prices and current account. Considering the importance of this issue, this study investigates the role of financial development in the relationship between oil price and current account using a nonlinear Smooth Transition Regression model (STR) during the period of 1978-2016 in Iran. Based on the relevant tests, it is concluded that there is a nonlinear relationship between the current account and world oil price. Financial development is chosen as the best transition variable and the nonlinear Smooth Transition Regression model with a two-regime logistic transition function (LSTR1) has been chosen as the best model for this relationship. The results of estimation show that the oil price appearing in the form of a two-regime structure with a threshold level (1.5386) in the first regime (when financial development is less than it’s threshold value (1.5386)) has a positive and significant effect on Iran’s current account; The intensity of this positive effect increases by crossing the threshold level entering to the second regime (when financial development is higher than its threshold value (1.5386).