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We evaluate China’s neutralization policy by monthly estimations based on the central bank balance sheet from 1999:6 to 2011:6. Our results suggest that China effectively neutralizes 66% of the change of net foreign assets under a pegged currency regime. Consequently, a purchase of one yuan of net foreign assets leads to an effective increase of 1.4 yuan in the money supply, rather than 4 yuan in the absence of neutralization. In the face of rapid growth of foreign reserves, neutralization in China is becoming increasingly difficult, consistent with Mundell’s hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate China's demand for foreign reserves from 1994:1 to 2007:4. Using a monetary model for China's reserve demand, we take into account the People's Bank of China's systematic neutralization policy to reduce inflation. While ultimately inconsistent, this policy has led to a growth in foreign exchange reserves that seems limitless: a neutralization coefficient of 0.57 leading to a “magnification effect” on the increase in reserves of 2.3. That is, a purchase of foreign reserves leads to a contraction of domestic credit of 57% of the foreign exchange purchase, which in turn magnifies the surplus under a stable exchange rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]