TY - GEN AB - We develop an exchange rate target zone model with finite exit time and non-Gaussian tails. We show how the tails are a consequence of time-varying investor risk aversion, which generates mean-preserving spreads in the fundamental distribution. We solve explicitly for stationary and non-stationary exchange rate paths, and show how both depend continuously on the distance to the exit time and the target zone bands. This enables us to show how central bank intervention is endogenous to both the distance of the fundamental to the band and the underlying risk. We discuss how the feasibility of the target zone is shaped by the set horizon and the degree of underlying risk, and we determine a minimum time at which the required parity can be reached. We prove that increases in risk beyond a certain threshold can yield endogenous regime shifts where the “honeymoon effects” vanish and the target zone cannot be feasibly maintained. None of these results can be obtained by means of the standard Gaussian or affine models. Numerical simulations allow us to recover all the exchange rate densities established in the target zone literature. The generality of our framework has important policy implications for modern target zone arrangements. AU - Arcand, Jean-Louis L AU - Hari Kumar, Shekhar AU - Hongler, Max-Olivier AU - Rinaldo, Daniele DA - 2023 DO - 10.1016/j.jmateco.2023.102852 DO - doi ID - 301525 KW - Finance and Investment L1 - https://repository.graduateinstitute.ch/record/301525/files/1-s2.0-S0304406823000459-main.pdf L2 - https://repository.graduateinstitute.ch/record/301525/files/1-s2.0-S0304406823000459-main.pdf L4 - https://repository.graduateinstitute.ch/record/301525/files/1-s2.0-S0304406823000459-main.pdf LK - https://repository.graduateinstitute.ch/record/301525/files/1-s2.0-S0304406823000459-main.pdf N2 - We develop an exchange rate target zone model with finite exit time and non-Gaussian tails. We show how the tails are a consequence of time-varying investor risk aversion, which generates mean-preserving spreads in the fundamental distribution. We solve explicitly for stationary and non-stationary exchange rate paths, and show how both depend continuously on the distance to the exit time and the target zone bands. This enables us to show how central bank intervention is endogenous to both the distance of the fundamental to the band and the underlying risk. We discuss how the feasibility of the target zone is shaped by the set horizon and the degree of underlying risk, and we determine a minimum time at which the required parity can be reached. We prove that increases in risk beyond a certain threshold can yield endogenous regime shifts where the “honeymoon effects” vanish and the target zone cannot be feasibly maintained. None of these results can be obtained by means of the standard Gaussian or affine models. Numerical simulations allow us to recover all the exchange rate densities established in the target zone literature. The generality of our framework has important policy implications for modern target zone arrangements. PY - 2023 T1 - Can one hear the shape of a target zone? TI - Can one hear the shape of a target zone? UR - https://repository.graduateinstitute.ch/record/301525/files/1-s2.0-S0304406823000459-main.pdf Y1 - 2023 ER -