Two Islands - Two Monies: the Effect of Breaking the Sterling Link on Anglo-Irish Trade.

This paper studies the effect on Anglo-Irish trade breaking the link between the Irish pound and sterling in 1979. A gravity model is used to explore this issue. No evidence is found of a structural break following the dismantling of the currency union. Nor did the resultant exchange rate volatility have a significant adverse effect on trade. These results do not support the belief that currency unions result in increased trade flows, either directly or by reducing exchange rate volatility.