The Principles and Operation of the Bretton Woods International Monetary System in the Years 1944–1971. The Reasons for Its Collapse

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Klimiuk
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
World Economy ◽  
International Monetary System ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Liquidity ◽  
Bretton Woods ◽  
Monetary System ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
The Stability

The subject of the article is an analysis of the role of the US dollar in the development of international trade and the world economy during the period of the Bretton Woods monetary system (1944–1971). The international monetary system existing at that time was, in principle, a gold exchange standard based mainly on the national currency of the United States. However, a relatively small role was also played by other currencies including, in particular, the pound sterling. It should be noted that the Bretton Woods rules did not match the conditions in the world economy which emerged after World War II. The main areas of criticism concerned such assumptions as the maintenance of an official fixed price for gold, or a too narrowly interpreter postulate for the stability of the exchange rate. On the other hand, it should be noted that the introduction of the stability of exchange rates and the abolition of restrictions on payments were fundamentally sound decisions. They led in fact to the minimisation of a risk inherent in international trade and its rapid growth. One should also emphasise the fact that from the very beginning, in the international gold based monetary system there was an internal contradiction (paradox), which eventually led to its collapse. This was namely the fact that the growth in world trade created a growing demand for international liquidity. This was tantamount to a necessity to maintain a permanent balance of payments deficit in respect of the country whose currency was considered the key currency. At the same time, the growing volume of the US currency resulted in an increasing crisis of confidence in the dollar.

Crisis and Reform in the World's Economy

1977 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-156
Author(s):  
Arthur Karasz
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
World Economy ◽  
International Monetary System ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Capital Flight ◽  
United States Dollar ◽  
Monetary System ◽  
The World ◽  
Japanese Yen

There are several crucial reasons for the need to reform the world economy. First, the worldwide inflation, a terrible cancerous disease which, if uncontrolled, might destroy the roots of economic development. Second (a direct consequence of inflation), a sudden imbalance in our international monetary system: capital flight in monstrous dimensions, devaluation of important reserve currencies, the United States dollar, the English pound, followed by the Japanese yen and a number of European currencies. Third, growing unemployment all over the world, again as a consequence of inflation and of a worldwide lack of confidence. Finally, but not least, the growing conflict of the developing countries, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, with the industrialized world mainly in the Northern. This north-south struggle, brewing for long years, has reached the dimensions of what we might call an “economic cold war” on a worldwide level. Thus far, efforts to find new solutions which would be satisfactory to both consumers and producers have failed.

CRYPTOCURRENCY PHENOMENON IN THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEM

2017 ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
Артур Анатолійович Василенко
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
International Monetary System ◽  
State University ◽  
Electronic Money ◽  
Monetary System ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
The World ◽  
Post Graduate Student ◽  
The One ◽  
Xix Century

UDC 336.74   Vasylenko Artur, post-graduate student. Mariupol State University. Cryptocurrency Phenomenon in the International Monetary System. The main prerequisites of cryptocurrency emergence in the international monetary system in terms of regionalization of the world economy are defined in the article. Determination of «cryptocurrency» category was analysed from the point of two main approaches to its treatment: on the one hand cryptocurrency is admitted to be the currency equally to the sovereign currency, and on the other hand it is considered as an unrecognized virtual asset. The main consequences which arise in case of widespread use of crypto currency for the country and for the parties that agreed to use cryptocurrency were analysed and systematized. On the basis of the research, given the current trends in the world economy, the author put forward and substantiated the hypothesis to classify the phenomenon of cryptocurrency as the effects of a famous philosophical «Negation of negation law» formulated by G. Hegel at the beginning of the XIX century.   Keywords: cryptocurrency, material money, electronic money, digital currency, regional currency integration, blockchain, mining, capitalization, «Negation of negation law».

scholarly journals Le système monétaire européen : Le point de vue européen

2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 533-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Lelart
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
International Monetary System ◽  
European Monetary System ◽  
The United States ◽  
European Monetary ◽  
International Capital Markets ◽  
Monetary System ◽  
American Interest ◽  
International Environment ◽  
The Stability

The evolution of the international monetary System prompted the nine members of the E.E.C. to establish a European Monetary System. The new statutes of the I.M.F. have in fact legalized the practice of flexible exchange rates and sanctioned the dollar's inconvertibility while eliminating the role of gold. Further, the increasing importance of the international capital markets fosters the unlimited expansion of international liquidities. it is in response to this context then that Europe seeks to create a zone of stability and to manage its own international tender in accordance with rules that it has set for itself. The author draws a positive conclusion as the System has operated without major problems so far. Nevertheless, difficulties remain: the international environment has not improved given the abrupt strengthening of the dollar and the increase in American interest rates. In addition, progress with regard to cooperation among the Nine remains slow and political change in France makes any prognosis respecting the future of the European Monetary System difficult. It was anticipated that the System would be Consolidated rapidly. It would in that event contribute more effectively to the stability of the international monetary System. It could, on the other hand, sharpen competition between Europe and the United States, between the Ecu and S.D.Rs. and between the European Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund.

United States and Its Challenge to Multilateralism in the Global Economy

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-419
Author(s):  
Krishnakumar S.
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Foreign Exchange Market ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Merchandise Trade

With Donald Trump as President of United States, multilateralism in the world economy is facing an unprecedented challenge. The international economic institutions that have evolved since the fifties are increasingly under the risk of being undermined. With the growing assertion of the emerging and developing economies in the international fora, United States is increasingly sceptical of its ability to maneuvre such institutions to suit its own purpose. This is particularly true with respect to WTO, based on “one country one vote” system. The tariff rate hikes initiated by the leader country in the recent past pose a serious challenge to the multilateral trading system. The paper tries to undertake a critical overview of the US pre-occupation of targeting economies on the basis of the bilateral merchandise trade surpluses of countries, through the trade legislations like Omnibus Act and Trade Facilitation Act. These legislations not only ignore the growing share of the United States in the growing invisibles trade in the world economy, but also read too much into the bilateral trade surpluses of economies with United States and the intervention done by them in the foreign exchange market.

scholarly journals The US dollar and new imperialism under the logic of capital accumulation

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-107
Author(s):  
Haiping Qiu ◽  
Min Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
International Monetary System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Monetary System ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
New Imperialism ◽  
Us Dollar

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.

Chapter II. The World Economy

1990 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Barrell ◽  
Andrew Gurney ◽  
Stephen Dulake
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
Budget Deficit ◽  
The United States ◽  
Government Budget ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Political Union ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Gatt Round ◽  
Government Budget Deficit

Our last forecast, which was published in August, was moderately optimistic about prospects for the world economy, and especially for the United States. Since the summer the Yen has risen strongly, the US has begun to look like it is facing a recession, and it is now clear that the united Germany will face a very large Government budget deficit after monetary and political union. Meanwhile prospects for war in the Gulf remain high, and although EC farm ministers have managed to agree amongst themselves about cuts in agricultural subsidies it is not clear that these cuts are large enough either to prevent the GATT round stalling or stop the US erecting trade barriers in retaliation. As a result of all these factors our forecast is hedged around with rather more uncertainties than usual. Table 1 sets out our short-term forecast. We assume that oil prices will peak at $35 pb in the last quarter of 1990, and will then fall to $28 pb by the end of 1991.

scholarly journals Removal of a General – The Rebirth of a Latent Conflict Between Two Sovereign States: USA and Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-99
Author(s):  
Diana Chiş-Manolache ◽  
Ciprian Chiş
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
World History ◽  
The United States ◽  
Long Period ◽  
World Power ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
The Stability

AbstractGenerally speaking, the relations between different states of the world, but especially between the states that represent world powers or have a certain type of arsenal, are able to influence the stability and the state of calmness from a certain region of the world, but also the notion of peace at the globally level. The 2020 year began with such a situation, in the sense that United States of America and Iran, which have been for a long period in relations not among the most well, have arrived at a moment that could represent, to a very large extent, the starting point of a conflict that will enter in the world history. The elimination of a very important Iranian general by US troops in early January 2020, by a surprise attack amonk Iraqian teritory, markedly aggravated relations between the United States of America and Iran, but also between the great world power and Iraq or other major global players who have harshly criticized the US attack.

scholarly journals Towards a Neo-bipolar Model of the World Order: Scouting Game in Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-29
Author(s):  
L. L. Fituni
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
World Economy ◽  
World Order ◽  
The United States ◽  
New World Order ◽  
Global Order ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
General Movement

The article lays out a hypothesis that the global order slides into a new bipolarity in the context of the escalating geo-economic and geopolitical confrontation between the two poles that currently dominate the world - the United States and China. The neo-bipolar construction cannot yet be regarded as an established new world order, but the general movement of the world economy and international relations in this direction is obvious. The neo-bipolar bipolar confrontation manifest itself with varying intensity in different regions of the world. The author argues that at present the peripheral regions which are strategically important for the prospects of competition are becoming an important testing ground for relatively “safe” elaboration of methods and tactics of geo-economic rivalry and h mutual exchange of systemic attacks. Today, Africa has become practically the leading theater of the new bipolar confrontation. The article analyzes the economic, military and strategic aspects of the rivalry between the United States and China on the African continent. It provides a comparative analysis of the new African strategies of the two superpowers adopted at the end of 2018. The author asserts that in the context of the emerging global bipolarity, the strategies of the USA and China represent antagonistic programs based on fundamentally different initial messages. In the case of the US strategy, this is to deter by denial the spread of the competitor’s influence using tough policies, including forceful (while not necessarily military) confrontational actions. While China seeks to neutralize the opposition of the United States and its allies to Beijing’s expansion on the continent and to win the freedom of interaction with any partners in Africa causing minimal direct confrontation possible. Therefore, despite the seemingly “peripheral” importance of the confrontation on the continent, for the establishment of a neo-bipolar world order, the proclamation of the new US regional geopolitical strategy, which focuses on the containment of China in the name of protecting democracy and independence, can serve not only for Africa, but for the whole planet the same milestone signal as Churchill’s Fulton speech for the final advent of bipolarity in the postwar world.

Prospects for the global economy to end-2019

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
World Trade ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
World Economy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World

Subject Prospects for the global economy to end-2019. Significance The world economy is likely to grow by around 3% this year. This is the lower end of the 3.0-3.5% range expected six months ago. World trade is weakening amid the US-China conflict and productivity is not picking up. China is expanding fiscal policy and others may follow, perhaps Germany and the United States. Monetary tightening is off the table and some countries may loosen policy. However, this will mainly shore up growth rather than raising it.

Bretton Woods Cassandra

2021 ◽  
pp. 113-150
Author(s):  
Ivo Maes
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Vietnam War ◽  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Reserve ◽  
International Reserves ◽  
Bretton Woods ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
The Vietnam War

In 1951, Robert Triffin became a professor at Yale. By the end of the 1950s, Triffin became more and more worried about the international reserve position of the United States due to the country’s gold losses and the increase in dollar liabilities. In his view, the continued deterioration in the US net reserve position would undermine foreigners’ confidence in the dollar as a safe medium for reserve accumulation. So, the gold exchange standard was not sustainable, as argued in his famous dilemma. Triffin thus established his reputation as the Cassandra who predicted the end of Bretton Woods. However, he was an optimistic Cassandra. He sought a more international solution for the world liquidity problem, a true internationalization of the foreign exchange component of the world’s international reserves. This chapter also pays attention to life in Yale and Triffin’s reaction to the Vietnam War.

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