Bancor Comes of Age: A Case for an Indian Bitcoin Reserve

John Maynard Keynes proposed the concept of ‘Bancor’ 1940 as a supranational currency that would serve as the international reserve currency. The concept did not take off at the time, although the underlying need to liberate the international system from the hegemonic tendencies of a national currency serving as a global medium of exchange. The emergence of Bitcoin makes it possible to revive the idea of a de-nationalised global medium of exchange. This article examines the feasibility of such an idea by examining a viable state policy for adoption and use in the international realm.

Bretton Woods Cassandra

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.

Managing the International Reserve Assets in the Context of Debt Sustainability

The article is aimed at researching the adequacy of international reserve assets, their management in terms of ensuring debt sustainability, as well as financial-economic assessment of liquidity and solvency of the borrowing State. Based on the carried out study, it is determined that liquidity of the State, as a functional element of solvency of the State, provides for the ability of the State to mobilize the necessary resources, taking into account the transactional mechanism of asset transfer from one unit to another in order to ensure an adequate level of solvency of the debtor State. In addition, within the terms of the carried out analysis of the system infrastructure, it is worth noting that there is a relation between the solvency of the State and its liquidity, since the latter category is part of the first, but these concepts are not identical. The provision of international assets, as the dominant element of debt sustainability, acts through the mechanism of financial and monetary security, thus, an assessment of the adequacy of international assets in the part of sufficiency of their volumes to cover the needs of foreign trade operations, servicing and repayment of the State’s sovereign obligations to creditors must be done. A monitoring of the main indicative values of the assessment of the status and structure of international liquid assets and their relationship with economic indicators is carried out. Ways to improve the system of management of international reserve assets in order to ensure debt sustainability are proposed. Priority directions of future researches are allocated, which should be aimed at substantiate the impact of currency risks on the debt sustainability of the State.

Developing a fair currency system

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the role of the prevailing currency systems in achieving (or departing from) the socio-economic objectives of a progressive and just society; i.e. featuring stability and equitable distribution of wealth. Design/methodology/approach After documenting historical developments in currency systems, the study reviews the Islamic perspective on the matter. Features of an ideal currency system are listed and then a critical evaluation of existing currency systems – fiat, banking and cryptocurrency – is undertaken. Findings It is found that existing currency systems – fiat, banking and cryptocurrency – are not compatible with the socio-economic objectives of a forward-looking, progressive society, which upholds transparency and justice as its core values. The study documents that Sharīʿah norms have no preference or dislike for any of the existing currency systems. Any prudent currency system compatible with the objectives of the Islamic financial system (i.e. stability and equitable distribution of wealth) is acceptable. A single international reserve currency (with country-specific legal tendering) is subject to the risk of destabilisation across global markets. Practical implications This paper recommends autonomy of central banking, the spending of seigniorage for the welfare of community members, development of asset-backed currencies (following ṣukūk structures), as well as multiple international reserve currencies and joining of hands by professionals and Sharīʿah scholars to design a currency system compatible with the Islamic financial system. This paper’s recommendation is against the adoption of cryptocurrency that lacks the backing of real assets. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature by evaluating the compatibility of existing currency systems in the achievement of socio-economic objectives of a welfare state which seeks to uphold justice and equitable resource distribution as core values in the financial system.

REFLEXIONES Y PERSPECTIVAS A 25 AÑOS DE LA AUTONOMÍA DEL BANCO DE MÉXICO

<p>En este artículo se hace una serie de reflexiones sobre los retos y logros que el Banco de México ha enfrentado en sus primeros 25 años de vida autónoma. Se detallan los elementos claves en el diseño institucional para el cumplimiento de su mandato prioritario: la estabilidad del poder adquisitivo de la moneda. En particular, se destaca la evolución de los cambios en el régimen monetario y en la instrumentación de la política monetaria para alcanzar ese fin. De igual manera, se comentan otros aspectos que han sido relevantes en este periodo de la vida autónoma del banco central, tales como la política cambiaria, el manejo de las reservas internacionales, así como la política de rendición de cuentas y la estrategia de comunicación.<br /><br /></p><p>REFLECTIONS AND PERSPECTIVES AT 25 YEARS OF THE AUTONOMY OF THE BANCO DE MÉXICO</p><p><br /><strong>ABSTRACT</strong><br />This paper describes the challenges and achievements that Banco de México has faced during its first twenty-five years of autonomy. The paper offers some insights about key institutional features that were decisive in fulfilling the central bank’s main mandate: Price stability. The article also outlines the evolution of the monetary policy framework and the central bank operations in order to achieve the central bank main goal. Similarly, other elements such as foreign exchange policy, international reserve management, accountability and communication policies are also discussed.</p>