Capital Flight and Exchange Rate Policy in Covid-19 Context: What are the Explanatory Factors in the Franc Zone and Non-Franc Zone Countries?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to make a comparative analysis of the macroeconomic and institutional determinants of capital flight between franc zone and non-franc zone countries over the 1984-2018 period. The pooled mean groups (PMG) regression results show that the exchange rate negatively and significantly determines capital flight in the franc zone countries, while in the non-franc zone countries, the exchange rate positively but insignificantly determines capital flight. We are more interested in this subject because of the persistence of capital flight in these areas after the Covid-19 crisis. Our main recommendation is to put in place policies to control exchange rate fluctuations, especially in the non-franc zone countries. This could help limit expectations of capital flight when for cyclical reasons, exchange rates depreciate.