Currency substitution occurs when an economy uses an alternative currency to the domestic currency. The alternative currency maybe used in parallel to the domestic currency or some cases may completely replace it. Currency substitution can also be referred to as ‘dollarisation’ when the dollar is used. Examples of countries with official currency substitution include Ecuador …
Readers Question: Is a strong economy generally accompanied by a strong currency? In short, a strong economy is generally characterised by a strong currency. When the economy is doing well, and at a boom period of the economic cycle it implies higher interest rates to keep inflation low. These higher interest rates will attract hot …
Interest rates determine the amount of interest payments that savers will receive on their deposits. An increase in interest rates will make saving more attractive and should encourage saving. A cut in interest rates will reduce the rewards of saving and will tend to discourage saving. However, in the real world, it is more complicated. …
An exchange rate index is a way of measuring the performance of a currency against a basket of other currencies. An exchange rate index shows the percentage change in the value of the currency against its main competitors. It sets the index to 100 for a particular base year. This enables users to make percentage …
Definition adjustable peg An adjustable peg exchange rate is a system where a currency is fixed to a certain level against another strong currency such as the Dollar or Euro. Usually, the peg involves a degree of flexibility of 2% against a certain level. However, if the exchange rate fluctuates by more than the agreed …
Readers Question: Can you please discuss the nature of the current account deficit and the exchange rate in the UK along with the theory that would suggest there is a relationship between the exchange rate and the current account. A current account deficit implies the value of imports of (goods/services/investment incomes) is greater than the …
A look at the impact of strong (overvalued) currency Readers Question: Why would a strong currency be bad for a country? If we consider a country like an individual, having a strong currency means the country can accumulate more assets and resources for its people, thereby increasing the value of its country. As for the …
Readers Question: Does expansionary monetary policy, where money supply is increased, also cause a depreciation in the currency? – Since there is a surplus of the currency in the foreign exchange market. Expansionary monetary policy means policies to increase demand in the economy. Expansionary monetary policy typically will involve: Lower interest rates – to make …