Currencies After the Crash

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Currencies After the Crash Page 22

by Sara Eisen


  and gold standard, 28–29

  largest, xx–xxi

  massive debt of, xi

  in nineteenth century, 6

  and worth of gold, 210–218

  Chile:

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  productivity growth in, 31f

  China, 219–240

  ancient, 11, 27

  bank loans in, 46–47

  central bank of, xx–xxi

  cost of holding reserves, 85

  and criteria for hegemonic reserve currency, 75

  currency policy of, 222–223, 225, 229–231, 233–234, 238, 239

  and current global economic transition period, 224–225

  demographics in, 87

  economic growth in (see Economic growth, in China)

  economic policies of, 222, 226

  economic prosperity in, 87

  economic size of, 36

  equity market capitalization, 23f

  exports of, 40f, 164–166, 164f, 166f, 167f

  fertility rate in, 42

  financial markets in, 45–48

  foreign currency reserves of, 226–227

  future role of, 120

  in G-20, 190

  GDP of, 36, 37, 37f, 40–41, 40f, 51f, 120, 173, 174f, 221

  and global currency imbalances, 219–220

  in global economic decisions, xii xii

  housing bubble in, 64

  ideological transition in, 87–88

  interest rates in, 46

  investment in, 40f, 45–47, 222, 228

  labor pool in, 38–39, 39f

  legal system in, 231

  life expectancy in, 44f

  limits to economic growth of, 37–39

  local currency trades by, 78

  manufacturing in, 59

  market capitalization of listed companies, 119f

  meteoric rise of, 220–221

  money pouring into, xiii

  and “non-cooperative cooperative game,” 238–239

  persisting attitudes in, 48

  planned changes in, 39–41

  population growth in, 37, 38f

  poverty in, 86, 221, 227, 232–233

  private consumption in, 40f, 42, 221–222, 228

  productivity growth in, 32, 229

  rebalancing growth in, 161–185, 189

  addressing present imbalances, 175–184, 176f

  benefits of, 184–185

  and corporate savings, 171, 171f

  and current growth model, 161–163, 183–184

  and dependence on external demand, 164–166, 164f, 166f, 167f

  and employment growth, 173, 174f

  financial-sector reform, 177–180

  healthcare, pensions, and education reforms, 177

  and household consumption, 172–173, 172f

  input costs and corporate reforms, 180

  and investment, 167–170, 168f–170f

  present economic imbalances, 163–164

  and service sector, 173, 174f

  yuan appreciation, 180–184, 181f

  recent improvements in, 86–87

  and RMB as international reserve currency, 233–238

  rule of law in, 75, 231

  saving rate in, 41–42, 41f

  service sectors in, 228, 229

  stock market capitalization in, 44

  wages in, 39

  China Banking Regulatory Commission, 46–47

  China Construction Bank, 49

  Chinese yuan (renminbi):

  appreciation of, 120, 180–184, 181f, 227–232

  currency peg for, 222–223, 225, 229–231, 238, 239

  devaluation of, 47–48, 47f

  and foreign investment, 227–228

  and “G-2” discussions, 191

  government control of, 45

  as hegemonic reserve currency, 73–76, 86–89

  and income inequality in the U.S., 222–224

  as international reserve currency, 233–238

  real exchange rate for, 227

  and rule of law, 75, 231

  as substitute for the U.S. dollar, 49–53

  Commercial banks, forex trades of, xix

  Committee of Governors (Europe), 96

  Commodity deflation, 65, 66f

  Competitive devaluation, xiii

  Connally, John, xii

  Consumer Price Index, 215–216, 215f

  Corporate reforms, in China, 180

  Corporate savings, in China, 171, 171f

  Corporations:

  with direct investments in China, 231–232

  forex trades i, xix, xx

  Cost of capital, in China, 169–170, 170f, 171f

  Council of Economic and Finance Ministers (Ecofin Council), 95–96, 98

  Council of Ministers of the European Communities (EC), 93, 94

  Credibility:

  of currency values, 24

  and the U.S. dollar, 63–70, 65f, 66f

  current account deficit, 67–68

  and forms of deflation, 64–67, 65f, 66f

  recycled dollars, 69–70

  Currencies:

  under Bretton Woods Agreement, xviii

  and central banks, xx–xxii

  declining confidence in, xv

  of emerging nations, xiii

  fiat, xvii, xviii, 204, 209–210

  foreign exchange market, xix–xx

  free float of, xviii–xix

  history of factors affecting, 5–10

  pegging, 85n.10

  as policy weapons, xiv

  reasons for weak vs. strong, xxi

  SDRs as potential claims on, xv

  (See also specific currencies; specific topics)

  Currency fluctuations, central banks’ influence on, xxi

  Currency markets, 127–128, 188

  Currency movements, analyses of, 126–127

  Currency relationships, 127–129

  “Currency snake,” European, 93

  Currency values:

  analyses of, 126–127

  credibility in, 24

  external, 100 (See also Exchange rates)

  manipulation of, xxi

  as policy tool, 133, 134

  relative, 129

  and weakness of U.S. dollar, xii

  Currency war(s), 187–192

  of 1930s, xiii

  Currency Wars I and II, 188, 190

  reducing risk of, 117

  Current account:

  of China, 176, 182

  and countries issuing reserve currency, 87

  of the U.S., 2–4, 67–68, 222

  Cyprus, political society of, 132

  Czech Republic:

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  productivity growth in, 30, 31f

  D

  Deflation, forms of, 64–67, 66f

  Delors, Jacques, 94

  Delors Report, 94

  Denmark:

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  government expenditures in, 140f

  productivity growth in, 31f

  Depth of markets:

  euro area, 119

  and success as international currency, 22

  and the U.S. dollar, 44, 45f

  Deutsche mark (see German (deutsche) mark)

  Devaluation:

  competitive, xiii

  and eurozone common currency, 60

  Dinar (see Arabian dinar)

  Dollar:

  Spanish, 6

  U.S. (see U.S. dollar)

  Drachma, 5

  Drachma, Athenian, 5

  Draghi, Mario, 145, 152

  Dual international currencies, 29–30

  Ducat (ducato), Venetian, 6, 203

  Dutch country banks, 9

  Dutch guilder, 6, 13

  E

  ECB (see European Central Bank)

  Ecofin Council (Council of Economic and Finance Ministers), 95–96, 98

  The Economic Consequences of the Peace (John Maynard Keynes), 207–208

  Econo
mic growth:

  in China, 53, 74, 161–185, 174f, 220–221, 229–233

  addressing present imbalances, 175–184, 176f

  benefits of, 184–185

  and corporate savings, 171, 171f

  and current growth model, 161–163, 183–184

  and dependence on external demand, 164–166, 164f, 166f, 167f

  and employment growth, 173, 174f

  financial-sector reform, 177–180

  healthcare, pensions, and education reforms, 177

  and household consumption, 172–173, 172f

  input costs and corporate reforms, 180

  and investment, 167–170, 168f–170f

  limits on, 37–39

  present economic imbalances, 163–164

  and service sector, 173, 174f

  yuan appreciation, 180–184, 181f

  global, 189–190

  for success as international currency, 21–22

  in the U.S., 35

  Economic policies:

  of China, 50, 52–53, 222, 226

  of Europe

  and EMU first stage, 95–96

  and EMU reform, 106–107

  and EMU second stage, 96–98

  as tools, 133–134

  Economic size:

  of China, 36

  and hegemonic reserve currency, 74–76

  and success as international currency, 22

  and the U.S. dollar, 36–44, 37f, 38f, 40f, 41f, 43f, 44f

  Economies of scale, 77

  Economy, world (see World economy)

  ECU (European Currency Unit), 82, 82f

  Education reforms, for China, 177

  EEC (European Economic Community), 10, 92

  Egypt, ancient, 10, 202

  Eichengreen, Barry, 196

  El-Erian, Mohamad, 238

  EMCF (European Monetary Cooperation Fund), 93

  Emerging economies:

  and changing world power dynamic, xxiii

  effect of U.S. and European economies on, 68

  Emerging nations:

  Asian, 144

  and competitive devaluation, xiii

  Emerging-market economies:

  future role of, 120

  official reserves held by, 84

  self-insurance by central banks of, 75n.2

  EMI (European Monetary institute), 96

  Employment:

  in China, 46

  in the U.S., 35, 36

  EMS (European Monetary System), 94

  EMU (see European Economic and Monetary Union)

  The End of History and the Last Man (Francis Fukuyama), 125–126

  Energy, in China, 168–169, 169f

  England:

  gold in, 206–207

  productivity in, 19

  recent inflation in, 212

  EPU (European Payments Union), 92

  ESFS (European Financial Stability Facility), 107–108, 153–154

  ESM (European Stability Mechanism), 108–109, 153–154

  ESRB (European Systemic Risk Board), 108

  Estonia:

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  productivity growth in, 30, 31f

  EU (European Union), 9, 142

  EU Stability and Growth Pact, 60–62

  Euro, 91–124

  benefits of, 102–103

  criteria for introducing, 98

  current trends in reserve status of, 113–114, 113f

  and EMU reform, 104–109

  exchange rate with U.S. dollar, 101f

  foreign exchange reserves, 101f

  future of, 125–144

  and conclusions drawn from history, 125–127

  cultural and sociological issues in, 130–133

  and currency relationships, 127–129

  and declining population, 135–138, 138f, 140–141

  economic issues in, 133–135

  and global reserve responsibility, 129–130, 131f

  and long-term debt cycle, 136–137

  and need for change, 142–143

  and social welfare system, 135–136, 138–139

  and statist industrial policy, 139–140, 140f

  history of, 91–98

  as key player in multipolar currency system, 116–119, 117f–119f

  in the next 20 years, 119–121

  official reserves held in, 82, 82f

  and preconditions for reserve currency status, 111–113

  protection of, 158

  recent waning confidence in, xiii

  and reform of international monetary system, 110–111

  as reserve currency, xiii, 7–8, 8f, 83–84, 100, 101f, 130, 131f

  share of global currency reserves, 117f

  shift of reserves into, 29

  and sovereign debt crisis, 103–104, 104f

  and Special Drawing Right, 115–116

  and stable exchange rate, 100, 101f

  and stable inflation rate, 99–100

  as substitute for the U.S. dollar, xii, 58–63

  and viability of challenges to U.S. dollar, 114–115

  and weakness of U.S. dollar, 29–30, 30f

  Euro Plus Pact, 107

  Eurobonds, 156, 157

  Europe, 43

  and balance of global power, 129

  bond market in, 217

  calls for integration in, 62–63

  cartels in, 62

  cultural differences in, 59

  debt of, 134

  declining population of, 134, 137–138

  disparity among countries in, 132–133

  economy of, 58, 59

  flaws of common currency in, xiii

  future of, 143–144

  historical revivals of, 142–143

  immigration in, 61

  international capital flows in, 92

  and international monetary system reform, 110

  post-World War II productivity in, 20

  rebalancing growth in, 189

  recent inflation in, 212

  social welfare system in, 134–135, 138–14

  (See also Eurozone)

  European Central Bank (ECB), xx

  bailout of weak countries by, 8

  balance sheet of, 213f

  ceding of authority to, 92

  country bank support from, 137

  and debt crisis of 2010, xiii

  and future of eurozone, 146

  long-term refinancing operation of, 151–154

  mandate of, 28

  European Commission, 94, 105, 106, 146

  European Council, 92–93

  European currencies, 91–94 (See also Euro; European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU))

  European “currency snake,” 93

  European Currency Unit (ECU), 82, 82f

  European debt crisis (2010), xiii, xiv, 8–10, 59

  European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), 91–98

  eligibility criteria for, 97

  first stage of, 95–96

  GDP of U.S. vs., 74

  historical significance of, 91–93

  preparation for, 94–95

  reform of, 104–109

  risk of collapse of, 84

  second stage of, 94, 96–98

  third stage of, 98

  and trade, 102

  European Economic Community (EEC), 10, 92

  European Financial Stability Facility (ESFS), 107–108, 153–154

  European Monetary Cooperation Fund (EMCF), 93

  European Monetary institute (EMI), 96

  European Monetary System (EMS), 94

  European Payments Union (EPU), 92

  European Stability Mechanism (ESM), 108–109, 153–154

  European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), 108

  European Union (EU), 9, 142

  Eurozone:

  benefits from euro in, 102

  and criteria for hegemonic reserve currency, 75

  current crisis in, xiii, xiv, 8–10, 59

  default risk in, 136–137

  defined, 145
>
  demographics of, 137–138, 140–141

  economic policies in, 133–134

  equity market capitalization, 23f

  factors in GDP growth, 164, 164f

  founding of, 10

  future of, 145–159

  benefits to Greece exiting, 146–149

  buying time for Italy and Spain, 151–155

  core countries’ benefits from zone breakup, 155–159

  exits following Greece’s, 149–151

  GDP of, 7, 9, 32, 33f, 37f

  lack of common fiscal policy in, 8

  market capitalization of listed companies, 119f

  net debt outstanding, 23f

  net foreign capital inflows to, 118f

  potential withdrawal of Greece from, 9

  productivity growth in, 31f

  reduction of Standard & Poor’s ratings for, 9

  sovereign debt crisis in, 29, 103–104, 104f

  struggles against control in, 236

  (See also Europe)

  Exchange rates:

  Chinese managed floating exchange rate, 52–53

  Chinese yuan, 180–184

  in EC, 93–94

  and the euro, 100, 101f

  and SDRs, xv

  Smithsonian Agreement, 93

  Export-driven countries:

  China, 164–166, 164f, 166f, 167f

  developing countries, 53

  F

  FDI (foreign direct investment), 102–103, 118f

  Federal Reserve (the Fed):

  in the 1920s, 235

  balance sheet of, 213f

  during Great Depression, 206

  monetary policy regulation by, xx

  and reserve requirements, 52

  unorthodox policies adopted by, xi–xii

  and worth of gold, 210–218

  Fiat, inflation by, 67

  Fiat currency, xvii, xviii, 204, 209–210

  Financial asset deflation, 64

  Financial crisis (2008), xi, xii

  and changing world power dynamic, xxiii

  and China’s growth model, 162

  and creation of new money, 198

  and exhaustion of U.S. economy, 224

  and long-term American prospects, 73

  and upgrade of G-20, 190–191

  Financial industry, 232

  Financial markets:

  in China, 45–48, 179–180

  in emerging nations, 76

  in Europe, 92, 107–108

  free and open, 22, 45–48, 47f

  history of, 127–129

  and success as international currency, 22

  Financial-sector reform, for China, 177–180

  Finland:

  in EMU, 98

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  government expenditures in, 140f

 

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