Abstract

This paper assesses the volatility of short term real interest rates in Pakistan using the Markov switching model and drawing on monthly data from January 1964 to March 2016. This model holds that if a random walk pattern is not visible in the real interest rate series, fluctuations are temporary and the interest rate will eventually converge around the mean value. The results reveal that real interest rates in Pakistan have exhibited high volatility since 1973 due to high budget deficits and other sources of instability in the economy.

Keywords: Interest rate, Volatility, Markov switching model

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