This report indicates the history of Latvia country and the transition period of independency and the shifting to market economy. The country growth was very fast until 2008. In December 2008, facing the possibility of financial collapse and a currency crisis, they asked for a rescue and they received a $10.5 billion package funded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, EU, and several countries in the region. After that, it talks about the possibility that could help Latvia to restore a sustainable growth. Which are either Devalue the national currency or maintain the peg and attempt an “internal devaluation”.
This case describes Latvia's transition from a Soviet republic into an EU member, its economic boom and subsequent bust in 2008, and its policy response. After implementing significant economic and political reforms in order to qualify for EU membership in 2004, Latvia had turned its sights toward joining the single-currency eurozone, pegging its currency to the euro in 2005 as a step toward that goal. From 2000 to 2007, Latvia achieved faster GDP growth than any EU state. However, when large inflows of capital suddenly dried up in 2008, Latvia had to obtain a financial rescue package from the IMF, World Bank, EU, and several regional countries in order to avoid a full-blown financial and currency crisis. Latvia then adopted an aggressive economic adjustment program centered on maintaining its currency peg, which meant competitiveness would have to be restored by reducing domestic prices, wages, and public expenditures in order to drive down the real exchange rate. Latvia's policy program and initial results
To study economic adjustment under a fixed exchange rate system 1. Explore the meaning of a "sudden stop" in capital flows and causes of Latvia's economic boom and busts. 2. Assess the tradeoffs involved in internal and external devaluation in the Eurozone. 3. Consider historical, political, economic, and other factors that influenced Latvia's policy decisions and their outcomes. 4. Predict the long-term impact of Latvia's policy decisions during the crisis.