The impact of cross-border knowledge management on internationalizing Renminbi: lessons from the belt and road initiative

Purpose In the process of Renminbi (RMB) internationalization, the heterogeneity and complexity in knowledge under the multicultural contexts have been considered as important factors that can have profound impacts on the cross-border flow of the RMB currency. Moreover, COVID-19, an exogenous shock, also triggers more in-depth reflection on the relationship between cross-border knowledge management and the financial risk governance. In addition, the needs to effectively respond to global risks and crises prompt the necessity in systematically establishing an effective cross-border knowledge management mechanism and innovatively solidifying the knowledge bases needed for the further internationalization of the RMB. Design/methodology/approach Based on the analysis on the current status of the RMB internationalization, this paper qualitatively explores some major challenges and difficulties encountered in the process of RMB internationalization from the perspectives of knowledge management and cross-cultural theories. To effectively mitigate these challenges and difficulties, discussions and recommendations centered on three main aspects: cross-cultural management; cognition; and innovation for the further development of the RMB internationalization are also presented in this paper. Findings Based on the analysis on the cross-border knowledge management and cross-cultural perspectives, this paper identifies three major challenges and difficulties that the RMB internationalization is encountering, including: cultural heterogeneity and its adverse impacts on the communication amongst economic entities; the existence of knowledge iceberg; and the difficulty it presents to cognition and financial innovation. Meanwhile, the authors also present recommendations on the development of the cross-border knowledge management mechanism for furthering the progress of internationalizing the RMB currency. Research limitations/implications From the perspective of cross-border knowledge management, this study not only elaborates on the recommendations aimed at further promoting the RMB internationalization but also provides reference and guidance for the state, central banks and commercial banks to play better roles in furthering the RMB internationalization. Originality/value This paper creatively integrates the micro knowledge management into the macro process of RMB internationalization, thoroughly discusses two main challenges and difficulties encountered in the process of RMB internationalization from the unique perspective of cross-border knowledge management under the multicultural contexts and provides relevant recommendations for RMB’s further internationalization. This study also enriches the exploration of knowledge management outcome variables and further expands the research field of knowledge management.

The Conflicting Developments of RMB Internationalization: Contagion Effect and Dynamic Conditional Correlation

As the world’s largest exporter and second-largest importer, China has made exchange rate stability a top priority for its economic growth. With development over decades, however, China now holds excess dollar reserves that have suffered a huge paper loss because of quantitative easing in the United States. In this reality, China has been provoked into speeding RMB internationalization as a strategy to reduce the cost and get rid of the excessive dependence on the US dollar. Thus, this study attempts to investigate the volatility contagion effect and dynamic conditional correlation among four assets, namely China’s onshore exchange rate (CNY), China’s offshore exchange rate (CNH), China’s foreign exchange reserves (FER), and RMB internationalization level (RGI). Considering the huge changes before and after China’s “8.11” exchange rate reform in 2015, we separate the period of study into two sub-periods. The Diagonal BEKK-GARCH model is employed for this analysis. The results exhibit large GARCH effects and relatively low ARCH effects among all periods and evidence that, before August 2015, there was a weak contagion effect among them. However, after September 2015, the model validates a strengthened volatility contagion within CNY and CNH, CNY and RGI, and CNH and RGI. However, the contagion effect is weakened between FER and CNY, FER and CNH, and FER and RGI.

Influence of Renminbi Internationalization on China’s Monetary Policy Effects: A Theoretical Analysis

For more than a decade, the People’s Republic of China has sought to expand the degree of internationalization of its official currency. In recent decades, China has become the world’s second largest economy, as well as the world’s largest trading nation, and its securities markets are among the largest in the world. Today, the RMB is among the top five as a world payments currency. One of the significant costs of achieving higher degrees of internationalization of a country’s currency is the complicating impact it has on the efficacy and effect of that country’s domestic monetary policy.  However, what is the nature and extent of that complicating impact? This paper employs an IS-LM model of an open economy as an analytical framework, embeds an RMB internationalization factor into that model. Specifically, with this model we examine the impact of RMB internationalization on the effects of China’s monetary policy. 

Short-Term Capital Flows, Exchange Rate Expectation and Currency Internationalization: Evidence from China

This paper intended to employ a portfolio approach to assess the effect of exchange rate expectation on Chinese RMB internationalization and empirically test the interactive effects among short-term capital flows, RMB appreciation expectation and the internationalization process using a VAR model with monthly data ranging from February 2004 to December 2020. The results suggest that RMB exchange rate appreciation could lead to an increase in the foreign demand for RMB and RMB denominated assets, while RMB internationalization would attract more short-term capital inflow due to the reduced transaction costs. The empirical evidence from the VAR model estimation confirms the finding that expected RMB appreciation induces short-term capital inflow and promotes RMB internationalization. The robustness checks confirm the evidence. The results have important policy implication for RMB internationalization and for maintaining a sound and stable financial system.