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Considering the merits of the flexible exchange rate and its ability to absorb asymmetric macroeconomic shocks, results on the basis of a two-variable SVAR model suggest that this ability was lacking in both Hungary and Romania, as regardless of the data used more than 80% of variability in the nominal (real) exchange rate over a four-quarter horizon can be explained by neutral structural shock. Variability in output is determined mainly by non-neutral (permanent) structural shocks. As for Poland and, to a lesser extent, the Czech Republic, the evidence supporting the stabilising properties are somewhat stronger, with up to 30% to 40% of changes in the nominal (real) exchange rate being explained by the permanent (output) shock. However, the results are sensitive to the data used.