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Monitoring the International Monetary System: Its Development in the West, and Future in the East

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  • Todd J. Barry

Abstract

The “gold standard” is frequently mentioned in text books, but few without an economics background can fully understand it. This paper thus begins in 1896, when U.S. Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan declared, “You shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold.” Since going back to the middle ages, the world has had numerous monetary systems, which are here explained in comprehensible terms. A modern reoccurring idea is to return to some form of the gold standard, while some argue for switching to the Chinese yuan or another international reserve currency, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will adopt in their Special Drawing Rights starting in October, 2016. This paper is normative in that it comments on the current international structure, but uses economic principles to support its argument in favor of an internationally strong dollar. It thus traces the history of a topically contentious subject, with a basic regression indicating important predictive factors for the future. It offers that a new gold standard would not be in the world’s interest, interfering with monetary policy, while emerging market countries would be best to import more and financially deepen, which the regression shows was why the Chinese yuan was adopted by the IMF, then looking ahead to other parts of Asia and towards bitcoins.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd J. Barry, 2016. "Monitoring the International Monetary System: Its Development in the West, and Future in the East," Academic Journal of Economic Studies, Faculty of Finance, Banking and Accountancy Bucharest,"Dimitrie Cantemir" Christian University Bucharest, vol. 2(2), pages 114-133, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:khe:scajes:v:2:y:2016:i:2:p:114-133
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eichengreen, Barry & Gupta, Poonam & Kumar, Rajiv (ed.), 2010. "Emerging Giants: China and India in the World Economy," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199575077.
    2. Maurice Obstfeld, 1998. "The Global Capital Market: Benefactor or Menace?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 9-30, Fall.
    3. repec:rnp:ecopol:09111 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Carmen M. Reinhart & Kenneth S. Rogoff, 2009. "Varieties of Crises and Their Dates," Introductory Chapters, in: This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly, Princeton University Press.
    5. Martha A. Starr, 2006. "One World, One Currency: Exploring The Issues," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 24(4), pages 618-633, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative

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