Wednesday, August 10, 2011

RM - Robert Mundell explains...

Businessweek on Nixon's dollar shock.


"...From his 1999 Nobel Prize lecture, Robert Mundell explains the circumstances that led to the demise of Bretton-Woods and the Great Inflation of the 1970s:

The adoption of my policy mix [by JFK after 1962] helped the United States to achieve rapid growth with stability. It was not intended to and could not solve the basic problem of the international monetary system, which stemmed from the undervaluation of gold. Nevertheless the problem of the U.S. balance- of- payments was intricately tied up with the problem of the system. With very little excess gold coming into the stocks of central banks from the private market, and the US dollar the only alternative component of reserves, the U.S. deficit was the principal means by which the rest of the world was supplied with additional reserves. If the United States failed to correct its balance of payments deficit, it would no longer be able to maintain gold convertibility; on the other hand, if it corrected its deficit, the rest of the world would run short of reserves and bring on slower growth or, worse, deflation..."

Source: http://thesupplyside.blogspot.com/2011/08/businessweek-report-on-nixons-dollar.html

Other part source: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-nixon-shock-08042011.html 

3 comments:

  1. Yes, we find the entire problem with the monetary system stems from a single cause: the intentional undervaluation of gold.

    It really is that simple.

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  2. Spot on Blondie,

    http://flowofvalue.blogspot.com/2011/08/short-and-sweet-2.html

    Short and sweet, isnt it? :o)

    Look at this:

    "In all mathematical sciences the first essential is a unit for measurement. The lack of
    such a unit for measuring the value of money in the sense of its purchasing power..."
    ~Fisher (1946)

    "We now have a gold dollar of constant weight and varying purchasing power; we need a dollar of constant purchasing power and, there fore, of varying weight."
    ~Fisher (1920, xxvii)

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    Replies
    1. IMO It is also very much about rules of engagement on IMS level. If CBs are in the same market as private entities unrestricted then that could cause monopolistic behaviour.
      About undervaluation - it is also about the fact that gold is not "free" of the CB-BB influence via credit gold and untransparent lending (due to usage of different accounting standards).
      I would also add that there the IMS framework is not homogenous and has different demand requirements and differently developed financial markets.

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