Chapter Eleven The International Monetary System
Introduction 11-3 The international monetary system refers to the institutional arrangements that govern exchange rates. Floating exchange rates occur when the foreign exchange market determines the relative value of a currency The world s four major currencies dollar, euro, yen, and pound are all free to float against each other
Introduction 11-4 Pegged exchange rates occur when the value of a currency is fixed relative to a reference currency Dirty float occurs when countries hold the value of their currency within a range of a reference currency Fixed exchange rate occurs when a set of currencies are fixed against each other at some mutually agreed upon exchange rate Pegged exchange rates, dirty floats and fixed exchange rates all require some degree of government intervention
The Gold Standard 11-5 Roots in old mercantile trade Inconvenient to ship gold, changed to paperredeemable for gold Want to achieve balance-of-trade equilibrium Japan Gold Trade USA
Balance of Trade Equilibrium 11-6 Decreased money supply = price decline. Trade Surplus As prices decline, exports increase and trade goes into equilibrium. Gold Increased money supply = price inflation.
Between the Wars 11-7 Post WWI, war heavy expenditures affected the value of dollars against gold US raised dollars to gold from $20.67 to $35 per ounce - Dollar worth less? Other countries followed suit and devalued their currencies
Bretton Woods 11-8 In 1944, 44 countries met in New Hampshire Countries agreed to peg their currencies to US$ which was convertible to gold at $35/oz Agreed not to engage in competitive devaluations for trade purposes and defend their currencies Weak currencies could be devalued up to 10% w/o approval Created the IMF and World Bank
International Monetary Fund 11-9 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Articles of Agreement were heavily influenced by the worldwide financial collapse, competitive devaluations, trade wars, high unemployment, hyperinflation in Germany and elsewhere, and general economic disintegration that occurred between the two world wars The aim of the IMF was to try to avoid a repetition of that chaos through a combination of discipline and flexibility
International Monetary Fund 11-10 Discipline - Maintaining a fixed exchange rate imposes monetary discipline, curtails inflation - Brake on competitive devaluations and stability to the world trade environment Flexibility - Lending facility: Lend foreign currencies to countries having balance-ofpayments problems - Adjustable parities: Allow countries to devalue currencies more than 10% if balance of payments was in fundamental disequilibrium
Role of the World Bank 11-11 The official name for the world bank is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Purpose: To fund Europe s reconstruction and help 3rd world countries. Overshadowed by Marshall Plan, so it turns towards development - Lending money raised through WB bond sales Agriculture Education Population control Urban development
Collapse of the Fixed Exchange System 11-12 The system of fixed exchange rates established at Bretton Woods worked well until the late 1960 s - The US dollar was the only currency that could be converted into gold - The US dollar served as the reference point for all other currencies - Any pressure to devalue the dollar would cause problems through out the world
Collapse of the Fixed Exchange System 11-13 Factors that led to the collapse of the fixed exchange system include - President Johnson financed both the Great Society and Vietnam by printing money - High inflation and high spending on imports - On August 8, 1971, President Nixon announces dollar no longer convertible into gold - Countries agreed to revalue their currencies against the dollar - On March 19, 1972, Japan and most of Europe floated their currencies - In 1973, Bretton Woods fails because the key currency (dollar) is under speculative attack
The Floating Exchange Rate 11-14 The Jamaica agreement revised the IMF s Articles of Agreement to reflect the new reality of floating exchange rates - Floating rates acceptable - Gold abandoned as reserve asset - IMF quotas increased IMF continues role of helping countries cope with macroeconomic and exchange rate problems
Exchange Rates Since 1973 11-15 Exchange rates have been more volatile for a number of reasons including: - Oil crisis -1971 - Loss of confidence in the dollar - 1977-78 - Oil crisis 1979, OPEC increases price of oil - Unexpected rise in the dollar - 1980-85 - Rapid fall of the dollar - 1985-87 and 1993-95 - Partial collapse of European Monetary System - 1992 - Asian currency crisis - 1997
Long-Term Exchange Rate Trends From 1973-2003 11-16
Fixed Versus Floating Exchange Rates 11-17 Floating: - Monetary policy autonomy Restores control to government - Trade balance adjustments Adjust currency to correct trade imbalances Fixed: - Monetary discipline -.Speculation - Limits speculators - Uncertainty - Predictable rate movements - Trade balance adjustments - Argue no link between exchange rates and trade Link between savings and investment
Exchange Rate Regimes 11-18 Pegged Exchange Rates - Peg own currency to a major currency ($) - Popular among smaller nations - Evidence of moderation of inflation Currency Boards - Country commits to converting domestic currency on demand into another currency at a fixed exchange rate - Country holds foreign currency reserves equal to 100% of domestic currency issued
Exchange Rate Policies for IMF Members 2004 11-19
Crisis Management by the IMF 11-20 The IMF s activities have expanded because periodic financial crises have continued to hit many economies - Currency crisis When a speculative attack on a currency s exchange value results in a sharp depreciation of the currency s value or forces authorities to defend the currency - Banking crisis Loss of confidence in the banking system leading to a run on the banks - Foreign debt crisis When a country cannot service its foreign debt obligations
Incidence of Currency and Banking Crises 1975-1997 11-21
Mexican Currency Crisis of 1995 11-22 Peso pegged to U.S. dollar Mexican producer prices rise by 45% without corresponding exchange rate adjustment Investments continued ($64B between 1990-1994) Speculators began selling pesos and government lacked foreign currency reserves to defend it IMF stepped in
Russian Ruble Crisis 11-23 Financial markets loss of confidence in Russia s ability to meet national and international payments - Led to loss of international reserves and roll over of treasury bills reaching maturity Financial markets unable to determine who s in charge
Russian Ruble Crisis 11-24 Persistent decline in value of ruble: - High inflation Artificial low prices in Communist era Shortage of goods Liberalized price controls - Too many rubles chasing too few goods - Growing public-sector debt Refusal to raise taxes to pay for government
Government Actions: Exacerbating the Situation 11-25 Defacto devaluation of the ruble Unilateral restructuring of ruble-denominated public debt 90-day moratorium on foreign credits repayment Hike in interest rates to defend ruble Duma rejects measures designed to alleviate problems
Decline of the Ruble 11-26 0-1000 1992 1993 1994 1995-2000 -3000-4000 -5000-6000
The Asian Crisis 11-27 Factors leading to the Asian financial crisis of 1997 - The investment boom - Excess capacity - The debt bomb - Expanding imports
The Asian Crisis 11-28 Mid 1997 several key Thai financial institutions were on the verge of default - Result of speculative overbuilding - Excess investment (dollar denominated debt) - Deteriorating balance-of payments position Thailand asks IMF for help - 17.2 billion in loans, given with restrictive conditions Following devaluation of Thai baht speculation hit other Asian currencies - Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Korea
Problems in Asian Market Economies 11-29 Cronyism Too much money, dependence on speculative capital inflows Lack of transparency in the financial sector Currencies tied to strengthening dollar Increasing current account deficits Weakness in the Japanese economy
Evaluating the IMF Policy Prescriptions 11-30 Inappropriate policies - The IMF s one-size-fits-all approach to macroeconomic policy is inappropriate for many countries Moral hazard - People behave recklessly when they know they will be saved if things go wrong Lack of Accountability - The IMF has become too powerful for an institution that lacks any real mechanism for accountability
Implications for Managers 11-31 Currency management Business strategy - Faced with uncertainty about the future value of currencies, firms should utilize the forward exchange market to insure against exchange rate risk - Firms should pursue strategies that will increase the company s strategic flexibility in the face of unpredictable exchange rate movements that is, to pursue strategies that reduce the economic exposure of the firm Corporate-government relations
Looking Ahead to Chapter 12 11-32 The Strategy of International Business - Strategy and the Firm - Global Expansion, Profitability, and Profit Growth - Cost Pressures and Pressures for Local Responsiveness - Choosing a Strategy