We uncover the major drivers of macro aggregates and the real exchange rate at business cycle frequencies in Group of Seven countries. The estimated drivers of key macro variables resemble each other and account for a modest fraction of the real exchange rate variances. Dominant drivers of the real exchange rate are orthogonal to main drivers of business cycles, generate a significant deviation of the uncovered interest parity condition, and lead to small movements in net exports. We use these facts to evaluate international business cycle models accounting for the dynamics of both macro aggregates and the real exchange rate.

Academic & Professional Qualification
- PhD: Economics, Columbia University
- Master: Economics, Columbia University
Economics, University of Tokyo - Bachelor: Economics, University of Tokyo
Biography
Wataru Miyamoto is an associate professor in the HKU Business School. He joined the University of Hong Kong in 2018. His research interests include empirical macroeconomics and international macroeconomics. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University in 2014.
Teaching
Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECON2220B, C, D, 2019 Spring)
Research Interest
Macroeconomics, International Macroeconomics
Selected Publications
- “In Search of Dominant Drivers of the Real Exchange Rate” (with Thuy Lan Nguyen and Hyunseung Oh), The Review of Economics and Statistics, Forthcoming.
- “International input–output linkages and changing business cycle volatility” (with Thuy Lan Nguyen), Journal of International Economics, Vol. 147, January 2024, 103869.
- “The Expectational Effects of News in Business Cycles: Evidence from Forecast Data” (with Thuy Lan Nguyen), Journal of Monetary Economics, Vol. 116, December 2020, Pages 184-200.
- “The Effects of Government Spending on Real Exchange Rates: Evidence from Military Spending Panel Data” (with Thuy Lan Nguyen and Viacheslav Sheremirov), Journal of International Economics, Vol. 116, January 2019, Pages 144-157.
- “Government Spending Multipliers under the Zero Lower Bound: Evidence from Japan” (with Thuy Lan Nguyen and Dmitriy Sergeyev), American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, Vol. 10(3), July 2018, Pages 247-277.
- “The Effects of Tax Changes at the Zero Lower Bound: Evidence from Japan” (with Akihisa Kato, Thuy Lan Nguyen, and Dmitriy Sergeyev), AEA Papers & Proceedings, Vol. 108, May 2018, Pages 513-518.
- “Business Cycles in Small Open Economies: Evidence from Panel Data Between 1990 and 2013” (with Thuy Lan Nguyen), International Economic Review, Vol. 58(3), August 2017, Pages 1007-1044.
- “Understanding the Cross-Country Effects of U.S. Technology Shocks” (with Thuy Lan Nguyen), Journal of International Economics, Vol. 106, May 2017, Pages 143-164.
Recent Publications
1Jul
1 Jul 2025
The Review of Economics and Statistics




