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Dollar hegemony: A power analysis

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  • Carla Norrlof

Abstract

The dollar has been the world's first currency since the end of World War II, possibly since the inter-war period, and is the leading currency today. A growing chorus of observers believes this dollar-centered order is coming to an end. While much commentary revolves around changes in the distribution of power, measures are only loosely related to the material basis for currency dominance. A proper understanding of the dollar's global role requires a quantitative assessment of the United States' monetary capabilities and currency influence relative to potential rivals. Moreover, while there is general recognition that a shift in power capabilities away from the United States to another actor in the international system is an insufficient, although necessary, condition for the prevailing currency hierarchy to reverse, there exists no systematic exploration of how power is exercised when converting monetary capabilities into currency influence. This paper offers a systematic assessment of the monetary capabilities and currency influence of all countries in the world as well as an analysis of how the three faces of power sustain dollar hegemony.

Suggested Citation

  • Carla Norrlof, 2014. "Dollar hegemony: A power analysis," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(5), pages 1042-1070, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rripxx:v:21:y:2014:i:5:p:1042-1070
    DOI: 10.1080/09692290.2014.895773
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hyoung-kyu Chey & Geun-Young Kim & Dong Hyun Lee, 2016. "Who Are the First Users of a Newly-Emerging International Currency? A Demand-Side Study of Chinese Renminbi Internationalization," Working Papers 2016-19, Economic Research Institute, Bank of Korea.
    2. Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Lucey, Brian M. & Kumar, Satish, 2023. "Border disputes, conflicts, war, and financial markets research: A systematic review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. Olk, Christopher, 2024. "How much a dollar cost: Currency hierarchy as a driver of ecologically unequal exchange," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    4. Zucker Marques, Marina, 2021. "Financial statecraft and transaction costs: The case of renminbi internationalization," Discussion Papers 2021/9, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    5. Colin Weiss, 2022. "Geopolitics and the U.S. Dollar's Future as a Reserve Currency," International Finance Discussion Papers 1359, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    6. Carla Norrlof & William C. Wohlforth, 2019. "Is US grand strategy self-defeating? Deep engagement, military spending and sovereign debt," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 36(3), pages 227-247, May.
    7. Stefan Angrick, 2018. "Structural conditions for currency internationalization: international finance and the survival constraint," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(5), pages 699-725, September.
    8. Eun, Cheol S. & Kim, Soo-Hyun & Lee, Kyuseok, 2015. "Currency competition between the dollar and euro: Evidence from exchange rate behaviors," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 100-108.
    9. Carla Norrlof & Simon Reich, 2015. "American and Chinese leadership during the global financial crisis: Testing Kindleberger’s stabilization functions," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 18(3), pages 227-250, September.
    10. Seghezza, Elena & Morelli, Pierluigi, 2018. "Rule of law and balance of power sustain US dollar preeminence," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 16-36.
    11. Hyoung-kyu Chey & Yu Wai Vic Li, 2016. "Bringing the Central Bank into the Study of Currency Internationalization: Monetary Policy, Independence, and Internationalization," GRIPS Discussion Papers 15-23, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    12. Emmenegger Patrick, 2015. "The long arm of justice: U.S. structural power and international banking," Business and Politics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(3), pages 473-493, October.
    13. Soo-Hyun Kim & Kyuseok Lee, 2016. "The Influences of Major Currencies in Foreign Exchange Markets: A Regression-Based Measure and Its Application," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 16(2), pages 277-289, June.

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