Currencies After the Crash

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Currencies After the Crash Page 24

by Sara Eisen


  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  government expenditures in, 139, 140, 140f

  productivity growth in, 31f

  OEEC (Organisation for European Economic Co-operation), 92

  Oil, 70

  Open markets:

  Chinese stand against, 50

  and success as international currency, 22

  and the U.S. dollar, 45–48, 47f

  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (see OECD countries)

  Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), 92

  Over-the-counter market, foreign exchange market as, xix

  P

  Pakistan, 39

  Paper money, 204

  fiat vs. backed by gold, xvii, xviii, 204

  in history, 6

  linked to metals, 27

  Paul, Ron, 29, 217

  Pension funds, deflation of, 64

  Pension reforms, for China, 177

  People’s Bank of China, xx–xxi

  Per capita income, historical rise in, 11

  Personal debt, in the United States, 4f

  Pettis, Michael, 239

  Philippines, export value added in GDP, 166f

  PIIGS countries, 9

  net debt outstanding, 23f

  productivity growth in, 32

  (See also individual countries)

  Plaza Accord, xxi–xxii, 63–64

  Poland:

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  productivity growth in, 30, 31f

  Population decline:

  in China, 38, 39

  in Europe, 137–138, 140–141

  and future of the euro, 135–138, 138f, 140–141

  Population growth:

  in China, 37, 38f

  in United States, 37

  Portfolio investment, in euro area, 118f

  Portugal:

  debt-to-GDP ratio, 103

  in EMU, 98

  and euro interest rates, 60

  and eurozone crisis, 9

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  government expenditures in, 140f

  manufacturing in, 59

  net debt outstanding, 23f

  political society of, 132

  potential exit from eurozone, 149–150

  productivity growth in, 31f, 32

  Pound sterling (see British pound sterling)

  PPP (purchasing power parity), 74

  Private consumption:

  in China, 40f, 42, 172–173, 172f, 221–222, 228

  in the U.S., 4

  Productivity growth:

  in China, 229

  in Europe, 61

  and military spending, 21

  in robust economies, 10–20, 12f, 18f, 19f

  and the middle class, 14–15

  the Netherlands, 12–13

  and railroads, 17

  United Kingdom, 13–16

  United States, 16–20, 17f

  for success as international currency, 21–22

  and the U.S. dollar, 30–36, 31f, 33f–35f

  Protection, gold as, 217

  Protectionism, 117, 219, 226

  Province of China, export value added in GDP, 166f

  Purchasing power parity (PPP), 74

  Q

  Quantitative easing (QE), xi, xii, 28–29

  and ECB LTRO, 152–153

  Fed’s use of, 212

  R

  Railroads, robustness of economies and, 17

  Real, Brazilian, xxii

  Real de a ocho, 6

  Real estate investment:

  in China, 46

  housing bubbles, 64

  Real estate prices, in Japan, 53, 55f

  Recycled dollars, 69–70

  Renminbi (see Chinese yuan)

  Reserve currency(-ies), 131f, 195–197

  advantages of being, 1–4, 2f–4f

  advantages of gold over, 24–26, 25f, 26f

  Chinese yuan (RMB) as, 86–89, 233–238

  and drawbacks of gold, 27–29, 28f

  euro as, xiii, 7–8, 8f, 83–84, 100, 101f, 113–114, 113f, 130, 131f

  and future of the euro, 129–130, 131f

  hegemonic, 73–89

  and central banks’ holdings of dollars, 84–86

  challenges to Chinese yuan as, 86–89

  and incumbency advantage, 76–80, 79f

  and previous writing off of U.S. dollar, 80–84, 82f

  and size of the economy, 74–76

  and history of factors affecting currencies, 5–10, 8f

  multipolar currency system, 110–121, 195–197

  and challengability of U.S. dollar, 114–115

  and current trends in euro/dollar reserve statuses, 113–114

  euro as key player in, 116–119, 117f–119f

  main advantage of, 121

  preconditions for reserve currency status, 111–113

  and Special Drawing Right, 115–116

  necessary ingredients for, 21–24, 23f

  need for, 24–30, 25f, 26f, 28f, 30f

  advantages of gold, 24–26, 25f, 26f

  drawbacks of gold, 27–29, 28f

  one vs. two currencies, 29–30

  and new global reserve system, xiv

  origin of, xviii–xix

  preconditions for status as, 111–113

  primary, 10

  and robustness of economies, 10–21

  Dutch, 12–13

  and the middle class, 14–15

  and military might, 20–21

  and productivity growth, 10–20, 12f, 18f, 19f

  and railroads, 17

  United Kingdom, 13–16

  United States, 16–20, 17f

  SDR as, 196–199

  sterling as, 6–7, 20

  top five issuers of, 76

  U.S. dollar as, xii–xiii, xviii, xxii–xxiii, 7, 8f, 110–112

  (See also International trade and reserve currency)

  Reserve managers, euros accumulated by, xii

  Reserve requirements, 52

  Rickards, James, vii

  Risk aversion, 227

  RMB (see Chinese yuan (renminbi))

  Robust economies, 10–21

  Dutch, 12–13

  and the middle class, 14–15

  and military might, 20–21

  productivity growth in, 10–20, 12f, 18f, 19f

  and railroads, 17

  United Kingdom, 13–16

  United States, 16–20, 17f

  Roman aureus, 24, 202

  Roman Empire, 5, 10, 11, 22, 202

  Roosevelt, Franklin D., 188, 206, 207

  Russia:

  and criteria for hegemonic reserve currency, 75

  in G-20, 190

  GDP of, 33f, 120

  in global economic decisions, xii

  gold bought by, 214

  government expenditures in, 140f

  money pouring into, xiii

  productivity growth in, 31f

  S

  Safe haven currency, U.S. dollar as, xxii–xxiii, 77

  Sarkozy, Nicolas, xiv, 78

  Saving rate:

  in China, 41–42, 41f

  in Japan, 56, 56f

  in the United States, 3, 3f, 4

  Schumann, Walter, 142

  Schwartz, Anna, 126

  SDRs (see Special Drawing Rights)

  Seignorage, 130

  Self-insurance, 75

  Services sector (China), 173, 174f, 228, 229

  SGP (Stability and Growth Pact), 105, 106

  Shadow financing, in China, 46–47

  Shanghai Composite Index, 45

  Shilling, Gary, vii

  Silk Road, 11

  Silver:

  coins of, 202–203

  free coinage of, 27

  Singapore:

  export value added in GDP, 166f

  open markets in, 52

  and qualifications for international/reserve currency, 22

  Singh, Anoop, vii

  Slovakia:
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  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  productivity growth in, 30, 31f

  Slovenia, GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  Smith, Adam, 12

  Smithsonian Agreement, 93

  Social welfare system:

  in China, 41, 42

  in Europe, 134–135, 138–140

  and future of the euro, 135–136, 138–139

  in Japan, 56

  Solidus (see Byzantine solidus)

  South Korea:

  in G-20, 190

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  productivity growth in, 30, 31f, 32

  (See also Korea)

  Sovereign debt, 9

  in eurozone, 137

  and eurozone crisis, 29, 103–104, 104f

  net debt outstanding, 23f

  of the United States, 111, 216f

  Spain, 6

  bailout of, 8

  in EMU, 98

  and euro interest rates, 60

  and eurozone crisis, 9

  future of, 151–155

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  government expenditures in, 140f

  housing market in, 60, 64

  labor costs in, 59

  life expectancy in, 44f

  manufacturing in, 59

  net debt outstanding, 23f

  political society of, 133

  productivity growth in, 31f, 32

  Spanish dollar, 6

  Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), xv, 236

  and multipolar currency system, 115–116

  as new world reserve currency, 196–199

  yuan in basket of, 49

  Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), 105, 106

  Sterling (see British pound sterling)

  Stiglitz, Joseph, xiv

  Stimulus spending:

  in China, 50–51, 53

  and current economic crisis, xi–xii

  Stock market capitalization, 44

  Strauss-Kahn, Dominique, xiv

  Sweden:

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  productivity growth in, 31f

  Swiss franc, 69, 212

  international market share of, 74

  as reserve currency, 131f

  Switzerland, 22

  economy of, 74

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  government expenditures in, 140f

  life expectancy in, 44f

  productivity growth in, 31f

  T

  Taiwan, export value added in GDP, 166f

  Tangible asset deflation, 64, 65f

  Taylor, John, vii–viii

  Technologies, for productivity, 36

  Temporary employment (United States), 35, 36

  Thailand:

  export value added in GDP, 166f

  gold bought by, 214

  Thatcher, Margaret, 125

  Tinbergen, Jan, 133–134

  Trade currencies:

  British pounds, 6

  as primary reserve currencies, 10

  U.S. dollars, 2, 80

  (See also International trade and reserve currency)

  Trade routes, 6, 11, 13

  Trade wars:

  and competitive devaluation, xiii

  from currency wars, 189

  potential, with China, 226

  Treaty on European Union, 95

  Trichet, Jean-Claude, 62, 91

  Triffin, Robert, 68

  Triffin dilemma, 68, 87

  Turkey:

  GDP per hour worked in, 33f

  government expenditures in, 140f

  productivity growth in, 31f

  U

  Unemployment:

  in China, 46

  Chinese exporting of, 223

  United Kingdom:

  and currency war of 1930s, xiii

  debt as percent of GDP, 55

  decline of leading role of, 7

  equity market capitalization, 23f

  fertility rate in, 43f

  in G-20, 190

  GDP of, 32, 33f, 37f

  gold standard in, 24, 205

  in Industrial Revolution, 6–7

  life expectancy in, 44f

  net debt outstanding, 23f

  and Plaza Accord, xxi–xxii

  productivity growth in, 18, 18f, 31f, 32

  productivity in, 19, 21

  robustness of economy, 13–16

  stock market capitalization in, 44

  (See also individual countries)

  United States:

  basically uniform culture of, 59

  budget deficit of, 2, 3

  and characteristics of Americans, 89

  and China’s currency peg, 222–223, 225–226

  and currency war of 1930s, xiii

  current account deficits of, 2–4, 67–68

  debt as percent of GDP, 55

  deflation in, 64–67, 65f, 66f

  economic hegemony of, 224

  equity market capitalization, 23f

  federal deficits in, 3, 4

  fertility rate in, 42, 43f

  free markets in, 62

  future of, 237

  in G-20, 190

  GDP of, 32, 33f, 35–37, 37f, 221

  gold standard in, 7, 28, 188, 192, 205–207

  immigrants to, 43

  inflation rates in, 100, 210

  life expectancy in, 44f

  market capitalization of listed companies, 119f

  massive debt of, xi, xii

  monetary policy of, xx, 114

  net debt outstanding, 23f

  open market of, 22

  personal debt in, 3, 4f

  personal saving rate in, 3, 3f, 4

  and Plaza Accord, xxi–xxii

  population growth in, 37

  productivity growth in, 18f, 31f, 32, 34–36, 34f

  productivity in, 17–20

  projected real GDP growth in, 4

  railroads in, 17

  ratio of working-age to older population in, 39

  rebalancing growth in, 189

  recessions in, 52

  robustness of economy, 16–20, 17f

  role in global monetary system, xii–xiii

  as source of global liquidity, 130

  sovereign debt crisis of, 111

  stock market capitalization in, 44

  support of defense spending in, 21

  trade deficit of, xi, 4, 70, 223

  trade relations with Japan, xxi–xxii

  U.S. dollar:

  current trends in reserve status of, 113, 114

  exchange rate with euro, 101f

  foreign exchange reserves, 101f

  and “G-2” discussions, 191

  gold standard for, xviii, 188, 192, 208–209

  as hegemonic reserve currency

  central banks’ holdings of dollars, 84–86

  incumbency advantage for dollar, 76–80, 79f

  and previous writing off of dollar, 80–84, 82f

  as international trade and reserve currency, 30–71

  and credibility, 63–70, 65f, 66f

  and depth and breadth of markets, 44, 45f

  and economic size, 36–44, 37f, 38f, 40f, 41f, 43f, 44f

  and free and open markets, 45–48, 47f

  and lack of substitutes, 48–63, 51f, 54f–58f

  and productivity growth, 30–36, 31f, 33f–35f

  and National Export Initiative, 189

  and new reserve currencies, 195–197

  policies that weaken, xii

  previous writing off of, 80–84, 82f

  recent waning confidence in, xiii

  as reserve currency, xii–xiii, xviii, xxii–xxiii, 7, 8f, 29, 110–112, 131f, 208–209

  as safe haven currency, xxii–xxiii, 77

  shaken confidence in, xi

  share of global currency reserves, 117f

  silver certificates, 27

  viability of challenges to, 114–115

  weakness of, 29–30, 30f, 130

  world’s largest holders of, xii

/>   U.S. Treasuries:

  foreign governments’ investment in, xxii, 69

  investments in, 223–224

  liquidity of, xix

  market for, 22

  ownership of, 44

  and quantitative easing, xii

  V

  Value of currencies (see Currency values)

  Venetian ducat (ducato), 6, 203

  Venice, Italy, 6, 21

  Vietnam, 39

  Volcker, Paul, 73

  W

  Wage deflation, 65, 66f

  Wages:

  in China, 39

  in eurozone, 60, 61

  Werner, Pierre, 92

  Werner Plan, 92–94

  World Bank, xviii

  World (global) economy, 220

  BRIC nations in, xii

  and central banks’ policies, 214–216

  China’s power in, 235–236

  current transition period for, 224–225

  fundamental problem in, 236–237

  and G-20 2009 summit rebalancing, 189–190

  and gold standard, 129

  historical growth in, 11–12, 12f

  imbalances threatening, xi

  in recession of 2008, 77

  Y

  Yen (see Japanese yen)

  Yi Gang, 161

  Yuan (see Chinese yuan (renminbi))

  Z

  Zhou Xiaochuan, 187

  Zimbabwe, 205

  Zoellick, Robert, xiv–xv, 201

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Contents

  List of Contributors

  Foreword

  Preface

  Introduction

  CHAPTER 1: The Dollar Will Remain on First

  CHAPTER 2: The World’s Hegemonic Reserve Currency: The U.S. Dollar Versus the Chinese Yuan

  CHAPTER 3: The Euro: Past, Present, and Future

  CHAPTER 4: What History Tells Us About the Euro’s Future

  CHAPTER 5: The Future of the Eurozone: An amicable divorce is Better than an Unhappy Marriage

  CHAPTER 6: Rebalancing Growth in China: The Role of the Yuan in the Policy Package

  CHAPTER 7: Currency Wars and a Growing Role for the International Monetary Fund

  CHAPTER 8: A Role for Gold

  CHAPTER 9: China

  References

  Notes

  Index

 

 

 


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