Consistency versus credibility: how do countries choose their exchange rate regime?

The empirical distinction between de facto and de jure exchange rate regimes raises a number of interesting questions. Which factors may induce a de facto peg? Why do countries enforce a peg but do not announce it? Why do countries 'break their promises'? In this paper we show that a stable socio-political and an efficient political decision- making process are a necessary prerequisite for choosing a peg and sticking to it. Whenever a country is implementing a de facto peg the same factors signal that the peg is more likely to be announced. Finally these factors explain why regime choices are not reversed.