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Explaining Global Financial Imbalances: A Critique of the Saving Glut and Reserve Currency Hypotheses

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  • Thomas I. Palley

Abstract

This paper examines three different explanations of the global financial imbalances. It begins with the neoliberal globalization hypothesis that explains the imbalances as the product of the model of globalization implemented over the past thirty years. It then examines the saving glut and reserve currency hypotheses. The paper concludes by arguing that both the saving glut and reserve currency hypotheses are inconsistent with the empirical record and both provide a misleading guide for policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas I. Palley, 2011. "Explaining Global Financial Imbalances: A Critique of the Saving Glut and Reserve Currency Hypotheses," IMK Working Paper 13-2011, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:imk:wpaper:13-2011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jan Kregel, 2010. "An Alternative Perspective on Global Imbalances and International Reserve Currencies," Economics Public Policy Brief Archive ppb_116, Levy Economics Institute.
    2. Jorg Bibow, 2008. "The International Monetary (Non-)Order and the 'Global Capital Flows Paradox'," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_531, Levy Economics Institute.
    3. Thomas I. Palley, 2006. "The Fallacy of the Revised Bretton Woods Hypothesis: Why Today’s System is Unsustainable and Suggestions for a Replacement," Working Papers wp114, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    4. Thomas Palley, 2007. "The Fallacy of the Revised Bretton Woods Hypothesis: Why Today's Global Financial System Is Unsustainable and Suggestions for a Replacement," International Journal of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(4), pages 36-52.
    5. Mrs. Isabelle Mateos y Lago & Rupa Duttagupta & Rishi Goyal, 2009. "The Debate on the International Monetary System," IMF Staff Position Notes 2009/026, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Kalina Manova & Zhiwei Zhang, 2008. "China's exporters and importers: firms, products, and trade partners," Working Paper Series 2008-28, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lino Sau, 2015. "Do the International Monetary and Financial Systems Need More Than Short-Term Cosmetic Reforms?," International Journal of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(4), pages 325-340, October.
    2. Thomas I. Palley, 2013. "Gattopardo economics: the crisis and the mainstream response of change that keeps things the same," European Journal of Economics and Economic Policies: Intervention, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 10(2), pages 193-206.
    3. Lino Sau, 2015. "Debt deflation worries: a restatement," Review of Keynesian Economics, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 3(3), pages 279-294, July.
    4. Laura Barbosa de Carvalho, 2012. "Current Account Imbalances and Economic Growth: a two-country model with real-financial linkages," Working Papers 1203, New School for Social Research, Department of Economics.
    5. Lino Sau, 2023. "Salvatore Biasco sul capitalismo contemporaneo e l'economia politica (Salvatore Biasco on contemporary capitalism and political economy)," Moneta e Credito, Economia civile, vol. 76(303), pages 265-277.
    6. Thomas I. Palley, 2013. "Global imbalances and the Revised Bretton Woods hypothesis: Wrong before the crisis and wrong after," IMK Working Paper 108-2013, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.
    7. Lawson, Cornelia & Soós,Sándor, 2014. "A Thematic Mobility Measure for Econometric Analysis," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis LEI & BRICK - Laboratory of Economics of Innovation "Franco Momigliano", Bureau of Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio 201402, University of Turin.

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