What determines the currency to which countries peg or "anchor" their exchange rate? Data for over 100 countries between 1980 and 1998 reveal that trade network externalities are a key determinant. This implies that anchor currency choice may well be suboptimal in that certain currencies, e.g.,...

The member countries of the International Monetary Fund collaborate to try to assure orderly exchange arrangements and promote a stable system of exchange rates, recognizing that the essential purpose of the international monetary system is to facilitate the exchange of goods, services, and...

In letzter Zeit wurden einige kritische Äußerungen zur Rolle des US-Dollar als Leitwährung laut. Sollte er als Weltleit- und Reservewährung ersetzt werden? Lukas Menkhoff, Universität Hannover, sieht den US-Dollar »längst in der Phase des Siechtums als internationale Leitwährung«. Der...

Has the US dollar delivered the benefit that the rest of the world is expecting from its holdings of international liquidity? US government debt has been liquid and safe, and it is supplied in sufficient quantity. But it has given a low return to the countries that accumulated the most reserves,...

The current global crisis is a manifestation of global imbalance. Higher creation of savings in emerging economies compared to developed countries; higher investments of developed economies in comparison with developing countries; the current account deficit of the balance of payments in...

Has the US dollar delivered the benefits that the rest of the world is expecting from its holdings of international liquidity? US government debt has been liquid and safe, and it is supplied in sufficient quantity. But it has given a low return to the countries that accumulated the most...

Has the US dollar delivered the benefits that the rest of the world is expecting from its holdings of international liquidity? US government debt has been liquid and safe, and it is supplied in sufficient quantity. But it has given a low return to the countries that accumulated the most...