Does Export Led Growth Hypothesis Hold Under World Crisis Recovery Regime in Malaysia?

Abstract

This paper examines empirically the nature of the impact of the exchange rate on import, export and economic growth in Malaysia from 2009 until 2018. The objective of this study is to investigate the long-term and short-term relationship between endogenous and exogenous variables and also to identify the effects of exchange rates on dependent variables including imports, exports and the Gross Domestic Product (DGP) that represent the productivity of the country. This study further focuses on investigating the impact or the role of export in drive the county economic growth. In achieving these objectives, the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) testing procedure is used to test the presence of unit root. In order to investigate the incidence of long run relationship between the data series, the Johansen Juselius Cointegration Vector is utilized. The Granger Causality in Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) framework is employed to differentiate between short run and long run causal effects in examining the led growth determinants. The result shows that there is causality between exchange rate, import, export and GDP. Moreover, this study shows that exchange rates responded positively to import and export and negatively to GDP. The result further support for export led growth hypothesis in this study. Thus, confirm for the role of export in motivating the economic growth productivity in after World Crisis regime in year 2008. However, Malaysia must not only relay on international trade to generate income for the country. This is because Malaysia is fortunate to have survived the negative effects of the global crisis; the international trade is exposed to exchange rate instability. If Malaysia wants to succeed in international trade, it may be able to focus on food and services trade. As alternative Malaysia may focuses on agriculture sector by improving the research and development and be a champion on food supply for the world.