Meaning
Economic metrics that calculate the relative value of different currencies by comparing the cost of a standardized basket of goods in each country. By using purchasing power parity, an international firm can adjust its salary scales and product prices to match the local cost of living. The measurement provides a more stable view of economic strength than exchange rates alone.
Standardized Comparison
The measurement includes essential items like food, housing, transport and energy that represent a typical household budget. When purchasing power parity is used for corporate planning, it reveals whether a high nominal salary in one city actually buys more than a lower salary elsewhere. This insight guides the allocation of global human resources.
Market Distortion
Market exchange rates often fluctuate due to capital flows or political events that have little to do with the actual cost of production. Adjusting for purchasing power parity helps a manufacturer decide where to locate a new factory by identifying regions with lower real costs. It removes the noise of currency speculation from the long term investment decision.
Currency Realignment
Governments monitor these figures to determine if their currency is undervalued or overvalued relative to their trading partners under the purchasing power parity model.