Assessing a country's competitiveness routinely starts with an analysis of the real exchange rate. However, in low-income countries, empirical analysis of the real exchange rate is often subject to important limitations that seriously weaken the results. This paper summarizes the methodologies used to assess real exchange rate misalignments and discusses the range of obstacles common to low-income countries. Recognizing the importance of using a wide range of indicators for assessing competitiveness in low-income countries, the paper discusses alternative competitive measures and then proposes a template of indicators to allow for a systematic assessment of competitiveness in low-income countries. The template is then used to rank countries according to their competitiveness performance in 2006.
This Selected Issues paper analyzes trends in Tanzania’s external competitiveness and export performance. Using various multilateral and bilateral real exchange rates, the paper looks at developments in Tanzania’s real effective exchange rate since 1990. It evaluates the misalignment in the real exchange rate based on results from an equilibrium real exchange rate model that accounts for changes in the economic fundamentals. An analysis of other qualitative aspects of competitiveness is presented, and an assessment of public domestic debt evolution in Tanzania is also provided.