The answer seems affirmative. We compare currency carry trades with an investment strategy based on currency fundamentals: taking a long (short) position in undervalued (overvalued) currencies. Carry trades have high risk-adjusted returns, but are subject to "crash risk." In contrast, the...

Intro -- Contents -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. TRENDS IN FINANCIAL DOLLARIZATION -- III. FINANCIAL DOLLARIZATION AS A RATIONAL RESPONSE TO INFLATION -- IV. THE ROLE OF CREDIT RISK -- V. CONCLUDING REMARKS -- APPENDIX I -- APPENDIX II -- REFERENCES.

This paper tests several explanations for financial dollarization (FD), with an emphasis on Latin America. The results provide evidence that FD is a rational response to inflation uncertainty. The paper builds on previous research by finding that an exchange rate policy biased towards currency...