scholarly journals The Challenges of Reforming the International Monetary System in the Post COVID-19 World

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
Mărginean Silvia Cristina ◽  
Orăştean Ramona

Abstract The paper analyzes if the international monetary system calls for reform and whether China and the renminbi will play a decisive role in the post COVID-19 world. It also evaluates the main scenarios and trends that is being discussed since the global crisis – selecting the relevant authors, journals, institutions and opinions – examines present conditions and tries to extrapolate into future trends. Opting for a nontechnical approach, the article could be a good insight into the international monetary system, for academics, non-experts and policy makers. The paper concludes that if the 2008 crisis has induced the growth of the China role in the international monetary governance and the increase of the renminbi internationalization, the COVID-19 pandemic and post crisis reconstruction could generate a deeper reform of the international monetary system, in which the Chinese currency will strengthen its global position alongside the US dollar and the euro.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-107
Author(s):  
Haiping Qiu ◽  
Min Zhao

Purpose The world currency is endowed with two inherent contradictions, namely, the general contradiction of all currencies and the special contradiction between the quality and quantity of the world currency. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach In the wake of the Second World War, the USA, with its strong economic and military strength, established an international monetary system centered on the US dollar (USD). This gave USD the status of “world currency” and bounded it to the US imperialist hegemony with mutual integration and interaction, making it possible for USD capital to conduct international exploitation and wealth plundering extensively around the world. Findings The contradiction between the capital logic and the power logic, which is inherent in capital accumulation models of the new imperialism, also indicates the inevitable decline of USD. Originality/value This constitutes an important feature of the new imperialism. However, as a sovereign currency, USD has inextricable and inherent contradictions while exercising its function as the world currency.


2020 ◽  
Vol 183 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 4-16
Author(s):  
Alicja Sielska ◽  

In the 1940s, the US dollar was established as an international currency. Since then, its position has been practically unchallenged. However, in light of the financial crisis of 2008, the strengthening of the Chinese and European economies, and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to reflect on the future balance of power in the international monetary system. To this end, this article poses the following research question: is the US dollar facing a threat to its leading position in the global arena? First, I describe the historical currency system and the position of the dollar after the 2008 crisis; next I analyze the pandemic up through the end of June 2020. Then, I consider three possible scenarios for the dollar. First, it is possible to create a new global currency which would consist of a basket of the five most important world currencies. The second option is to replace the dollar with another currency, especially the euro or the renminbi. The third and most probable scenario is the compresence of several competing national currencies in international trade. Abandoning the dollar is possible, but it would require significant financial and institutional changes. This means that in the absence of any easy solutions for dethroning the US currency, it will remain the world’s leading currency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Fantacci ◽  
Lucio Gobbi

Abstract Stablecoins are second generation cryptocurrencies, aimed at maintaining their value stable with respect to official currencies. The most famous example is perhaps represented by libra, the cryptocurrency announced by Facebook in 2019 and yet to be issued; the most widespread is tether, with a market capitalization of almost 10 billion dollars and a daily transaction volume of almost 50 billion dollars, which makes it the most used cryptocurrency. The diffusion of stablecoins is hardly surprising. By minimizing volatility – the main flaw of first generation cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin –, stablecoins are expected to play an even more important role on a global scale within a few years. Our contribution deals not with the economic, but specifically with the geopolitical factors that could foster the use of stablecoins for strategic and military purposes. In particular, we focus on how such payment instruments, together with other alternative electronic payment systems, could be used as a means to circumvent economic sanctions and ultimately as a challenge to the hegemony of the US dollar in the international monetary system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 01 (03) ◽  
pp. 347-372
Author(s):  
Il Houng Lee

The dominance of the US Dollar (USD) as the main global reserve currency will continue for the foreseeable future. Yet various events, including the most recent financial crisis, have pointed to the need for an alternative system that will strengthen market discipline rather than a system relying excessively on policy coordination. The rise of Asian economies led by China provides a unique opportunity for a regionalization of selected Asian currencies, namely, the settling of current account transactions among Asian economies using selected local currencies. To do so, relevant governments should be more proactive in setting up a market framework by following similar steps taken by China for RMB internationalization. This will provide an opportunity for the market to determine how fast it wants to shape an alternative international monetary system. Most likely, a tri-polar and two-tier system will emerge. As the medium of exchange and unit of account, the first tier, the USD, the Euro, and the RMB will dominate, forming a tri-polar system along each of which various local currencies will be used specific to the locality. As the store of value, the second tier, the USD will retain its hegemony for a few more decades. Gradually, these two tiers will merge.


2008 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-136
Author(s):  
Zaklina Stepanovic-Petrac

The author explores the evolution, functioning, similarities and differences between the original Bretton Woods international monetary system that operated from 1945 to 1973 and the present modified institution, which is symbolically called Bretton Woods 2 System. The existing international financial architecture keeps on being based on the hegemony of the US dollar, as a dominant reserve currency. However, in spite of the fact that in most cases the present international monetary system implies the regime of flexible foreign exchanges rates, a characteristic of this system is that many countries in different degrees refuse to accept the appreciation of their national currencies to the US dollar. At the same time, the domination of the USA, the most indebted country in the world, is becoming a very serious threat to its sustainability. However, as the author concludes, the creators of the international monetary system, being aware how serious could be the consequences of its cessation, endeavor to extend its operation accepting less expensive consequences of keeping it alive.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-30
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Twarowska

Background and the purpose: The Chinese economy is the fastest growing and changing economy in the modern world. The importance of the renminbi as an international currency is not relevant to China's economic potential and role in the global economy, however, many scientific studies indicate that the position of that currency in the functions of international money will become stronger in the future. This encouraged the author to assess the consequences of the renminbi internationalisation, in particular the impact on the stability of the international monetary system. An additional aim of the paper is to present the possible scenarios for reform of the international monetary system and assess whether the Chinese currency has a chance to become a global currency. Methods: The assessment of the renminbi’s role in global foreign exchange relations was carried out by analysing the use of Chinese currency in the main functions of international money in official sector (reserve currency, intervention currency, anchor currency) and private sector (investment currency, vehicle currency in international trade and on the foreign exchange market, invoicing and quotation currency) using the Cohen matrix. The author also assessed the benefits for the stability of the international monetary system, resulting from the transition from a system based on the dominance of the US dollar to a multi-currency system, including the renminbi. The study included theoretical research (analysis of the literature and research reports) and empirical research (analysis of statistical data). Results and conclusions: The author confirmed the research hypothesis: An increase in the use of renminbi in the functions of international currency will increase the stability of the international monetary system by reducing the dependence of this system on the single currency, which is the US dollar.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 767-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Murau ◽  
Joe Rini ◽  
Armin Haas

AbstractLittle has contributed more to the emergence of today's world of financial globalization than the setup of the international monetary system. In its current shape, it has a hierarchical structure with the US-Dollar (USD) at the top and various other monetary areas forming a multilayered periphery to it. A key feature of the system is the creation of USD offshore – a feature that in the 1950s and 60s developed in co-evolution with the Bretton Woods System and in the 1970s replaced it. Since the 2007–9 Financial Crisis, this ‘Offshore US-Dollar System’ has been backstopped by the Federal Reserve's network of swap lines which are extended to other key central banks. This systemic evolution may continue in the decades to come, but other systemic arrangements are possible as well and have historical precedents. This article discusses four trajectories that would lead to different setups of the international monetary system by 2040, taking into account how its hierarchical structure and the role of offshore credit money creation may evolve. In addition to a continuation of USD hegemony, we present the emergence of competing monetary blocs, the formation of an international monetary federation and the disintegration into an international monetary anarchy.


Author(s):  
Izabela Zawiślińska

The international position of a currency is directly determined by the scale and manner of fulfilment of classic currency functions in the international context. Creation of the Economic and Monetary Union and the introduction of a new currency (euro) – even though the decision was strictly political – was well-received by entities of contemporary international economy, including its main participants and the players on the international currency market. The reason for such a reception was the potential of the economies in the euro area, and also structural conditions and expectations for creation of an international currency that was to be a real alternative to the US dollar. The possibility of diversification in the investment and reserve spheres as well as in reference, intervention, transfer and invoicing spheres was considered as a step in the right direction to limiting the domination of the US dollar on the market. Notwithstanding the increasing problems in euro area in the fiscal sphere and the real economy, particularly with the job market, one may agree that the latest economic crisis did not change the bipolar character of the international monetary system still based on the US dollar and the euro. However, it needs to be stressed that the euro remains rather a regional than a global currency.


Author(s):  
Atish R. Ghosh ◽  
Jonathan D. Ostry ◽  
Mahvash S. Qureshi

This concluding chapter argues that the policy makers' vade mecum laid out in the previous chapter raises broader issues for the global monetary system. Notwithstanding the fact that some of the emerging markets may have liberalized their capital accounts prematurely, it questions whether emerging markets have further to gain from opening up, or indeed whether they would not be better off retaining restrictions on at least the riskiest forms of foreign liabilities and transactions. This is particularly pertinent since most of these countries do not enjoy the liquidity insurance provided by swap facilities let alone the reserve currency status. They are forced to self-insure through reserve accumulation, which is costly both to the country and to the international monetary system. Alternative forms of insurance could arguably yield favorable benefit–cost trade-offs, particularly if they result in a safer mix of flows that makes economies less prone to risks from changes in global push factors.


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