Establishing a global currency has been an expectation in the global economy. Gold was considered a standard for currency values, which prevailed until the first decade of the century. After World War II, the Bretton Woods Agreement (1944) pegged the currencies to the United States dollar, which was pegged to gold. In 1971, President Nixon ended this convertibility, which brought with it diverse currency values and increased calculation rates of closer national currencies. In 1999, the introduction of the euro announced an important step towards currency unification among European nations. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin emerged in 2009, challenging traditional currency systems. While a single world currency is still unachievable, discussions continue about its potential to promote international trade, economic stability, and financial cooperation.
History
1. First European Banknotes (17th century)
The first European banknotes came from Stockholms Banco in 1661, founded by Johan Palmstruk, the forerunner of Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank of Sweden. With the succession of commercial activity in 17th-century Europe, the Amsterdam Bank gained importance. It issued notes printed in Dutch guilders, becoming an important means of payment for trade throughout the Western world. This change marks the adoption of a significant evolution in financial instruments, which helps facilitate commercial and economic growth. Johann Palmström’s first steps laid the foundation of the modern banking system, leading the way in monetary policy and financial infrastructure in Europe.
2. Spanish dollar (17th – 19th centuries)
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the silver Spanish dollar, commonly known as the “piece of eight”, became prominent as a global currency. It originated in Spain’s territories in the Americas, and extended its dominance to Asia in the west and Europe in the east, becoming the world’s first widely recognized currency. Spain’s political dominance, extensive commercial routes, and the high quality of the coinage and purity of the silver contributed to its international acceptance, allowing it to remain so for nearly three centuries. The Spanish dollar was recognized as legal tender in various territories, including Spain’s Pacific territories, the Philippines, Guam, and Micronesia. It also became popular in China and other South-East Asian countries and lasted until the 19th century. In the Americas, it was recognized as legal tender in South and Central America (except Brazil), the United States, and Canada until the 19th century.
The influence of the coin spread to Europe, where it was accepted in the Iberian Peninsula, most of Italy, including Milan, the Kingdom of Naples, Sicily and Sardinia, as well as in Franche-Comté (France) and the Spanish Netherlands. It also found use in other European states, including the Austrian Habsburg realm. Even after Mexican independence in 1821, the Spanish dollar continued to be used in many parts of the Americas beginning in the 1860s. The Mexican peso, the US dollar, and the Canadian dollar all originate from the Spanish dollar, with the famous caduceus sign ($), also known as the dollar sign, having its roots in this historical currency. The Spanish dollar remained legal tender in the United States until the Coinage Act of 1857, which ended its widespread global influence.
3. Sterling
Before 1944, the global reference currency was the United Kingdom’s sterling. The United States turned to the dollar during the crisis, which had a major impact on central banks. This change was enshrined in the Bretton Woods Agreement, which established the USD as the major reserve currency. This change reshaped international finance, influencing trade and currency policies around the world. The central bank equalized its reserves, harmonizing the new dollar-centric system. The move symbolized the economic rise of the United States and set the stage for its subsequent leadership in global finance, marking a watershed moment in the history of international monetary relations.
4. U.S. dollar
The global importance of the US dollar has its origins in the moments after World War II, particularly after the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. During this period, currency exchange rates around the world were stable, tied to the US dollar itself, which could be exchanged for stable amounts of gold. This mechanism established the primacy of the US dollar, making it the de facto global standard.
However, after the Smithsonian Agreement in 1971, the structure of the fixed exchange rate and gold exchange system broke down. Subsequently, the international monetary system changed the direction of floating exchange rates. Despite this change, the US dollar retained its status as a worldwide currency. Although most currencies were no longer tied to the US dollar, it remained the dominant currency for international transactions. Robert Gilpin commented in 2001 that approximately 40 to 60 percent of international financial transactions were measured in dollars. Furthermore, the US dollar continued to function as the world’s dominant reserve currency, holding about two-thirds of global foreign exchange reserves in 1996, against one-quarter of the euro.
Although many currencies today are not directly pegged to the US dollar, some nations maintain such arrangements. In particular, countries such as Ecuador, El Salvador, and Panama have adopted the US dollar as their official currency, a process called “dollarization”. Over time, two significant challenges to the dominance of the US dollar arose. In the 1980s, the Japanese yen gained international recognition, but its influence waned during the Japanese recession of the 1990s. Recently, the euro has gained a strong substitute for the US dollar in the field of international finance. The US dollar’s status as a major currency is shaped by historical reasons and the enduring economic strength of the United States. Challenges have arisen, but the security of the US dollar remains a defining feature in global finance.
5. Euro
The euro, established in 1999, gained its important position as a major reserve currency, in part due to the inheritance of the German mark (DM). Its role in official reserves has increased while global banks seek diversification and trade within the eurozone grows. In the United States, some currencies, including Eastern European currencies such as the Bulgarian lev and West African currencies, are pegged to the euro. Some currencies around the world have adopted the euro by unilaterally swapping their currencies against the euro, or through currency unions with member states. This includes examples such as Andorra, Monaco, Kosovo, Montenegro, San Marino, and Vatican City. By December 2006, the euro had overtaken the dollar in combined monetary value of notes, with euro notes worth more than €610 billion (equivalent to US$800 billion at the currency rates of the time). A 2016 WTO report revealed that 60% of the world’s energy, food, and services were traded in US dollars, while the euro accounted for 40%, emphasizing the euro’s important role in global trade and finance. .
6. Recent proposals (21st century)
In the 21st century, several proposals have been made regarding a sovereign currency and a supra-national reserve currency. A major proposal was made by the then chairman of the People’s Bank of China, Zhou Xiaochuan, on March 23, 2009. Zhou pushed for the transformation of the US dollar through the creation of a monetary system towards an “international reserve currency”. He expected the move to reduce the risk of future economic crises and boost crisis management capabilities.
Zhou suggested that the international currency could play a major role in this process, and he considered special denominated rights (SDRs) as a potential “supra-reserve” currency. SDRs are a currency basket consisting of the dollar, euro, sterling, and yen, and Zou argued that they would be less sensitive to the policies of individual countries. However, then-US President Barack Obama was quick to deny the need for tighter links to China’s new global currency, while remaining cautiously confident in the US dollar’s strength during the global economic crisis.
During the G8 summit in July 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed Russia’s desire to establish a new supranational reserve currency, echoing China’s sentiments. To reinforce this idea, he released a coin with the words “Unity in Diversity”, seeking to establish the need for a mix of regional currencies as a response to the world economic crisis.
In a different regional context, at the second South America-Arab League Summit in Qatar on 30 March 2009, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez proposed the creation of a petro-currency. This currency is backed by significant oil reserves of rapidly growing oil producing countries to provide liquidity and monetary stability. Chávez’s successor Nicolas Maduro announced the creation of the Petro cryptocurrency in 2018. However, according to information available as of my last update January 2022, the Petro has not gained widespread acceptance or recognition as a global currency.
These proposals reflect a growing recognition of, and desire for, the limitations and vulnerabilities of relying on a single major reserve currency, and a desire to explore different mechanisms to reduce risks and promote stability in the global finance approach. Are. The establishment of a supranational reserve currency continues to be a topic of discussion and negotiations among political and international financial institutions.
Single world currency
The topic of global currency, often portrayed as a single world currency, has been a topic of discussion among economists, policymakers, and international financial experts. It centers around the notion that prosperity will be guided by having a single currency that will be used for all transactions worldwide, regardless of the citizenry involved. Although no official global currency exists at this time, there have been various proposals and theories examining the potential benefits and challenges associated with this type of monetary system.
Admirers of the global currency, including influential figures such as John Maynard Keynes, claim that it could provide a solution to currency inflation-related issues. It is the belief that a prosperous global currency can mitigate the harmful effects of inflation, which in extreme cases has proven detrimental to national economies. Additionally, proponents claim that a universal currency could streamline international trade transactions, promote efficiency, and encourage foreign direct investment (FDI).
One variation of the idea is that a global central bank could manage the currency, setting a single financial standard, or there is also the option of setting a single currency standard for itself, or adopting the gold standard as its own. Can approve. The euro, which was introduced by the union of different languages, cultures, and economies, is cited as a successful example of a supranational currency.
One proposed option is that the international currency could be issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a world reserve currency, replacing the current system of international currency, which is based on the existing exchange of Special Section Rights (SDRs). Can be made on. Under this idea, a new global currency reserve system could be created to replace the current US dollar-based system. The United Nations Panel of Expert Economists recommended a larger pamphlet SDR, which suggested adjusting the size of emissions to aggregate reserves, which could serve as a means to promote global stability, economic strength, and justice. ,
Another transitional approach involves using the balance of trade to disambiguate the need for real currency for international trade. This approach aims to improve transactions between countries without the need for a single global currency.
In addition to the vision of a single world currency, some viewists also suggest that multiple global currencies could symbiosis within a single market system. There is the rise of digital global currencies owned by private companies such as Ven, which, if they gain acceptance and power, could provide a greater range for options trading across multiple global currencies.
A prominent example is the World Currency Unit (WOCU), a globally distributed synthetic global currency quotation that will be managed by Unite Global, a central platform for global payments and support. This approach aims to provide a stable and reliable medium that reflects the economic strengths of major global economies.
The idea of becoming a single world currency or a companion to different global currencies is a complex and multilateral concept. Proponents argue that it could improve currency inflation and efficiency in international transactions, while skeptics worry about the prospects and potential risks associated with such a drastic change in the global economic system. As discussions and proposals evolve, the future of global currencies remains a topic of discussion and consideration in the international economic community.
Difficulties
The Triffin skepticism, first expressed by economist Robert Triffin, highlights the challenges associated with a single world currency. Often combined with the impossible triad that a country cannot maintain a specified foreign exchange rate, the pace of free capital infusion, and independent monetary policy from time to time, the Triffin adds another circumstance to the doubt. Currently the United States dollar serves as an existential world currency, providing advantages but also granting the federal government great authority over other nations. Some economists object to a single world currency, noting its economic ineffectiveness if not making the world a single currency zone.
Economic dissonance hinders closer cooperation for a world currency. The close cooperation needed for a common currency is hindered by a lack of trust between nations. Creating a world currency could also threaten the national sovereignty of smaller states, because a common currency would require giving up some control over cash policy.
Wealth distribution concerns arise from the role of the main bank. Setting interest rates transfers payments from banks to customers on loans, which affects individuals, investments, and countries. Due to conflicts over the huge wealth gap globally, conflicts may arise in the Bank’s efforts to set interest rates to promote prosperity. Lending to the poor is inherently more risky, creating a dilemma for central banks attempting to balance economic growth and financial stability.
The idea of a single world currency presents several technical difficulties. The Triffin doubt, issues of economic incompatibility between nations, and challenges associated with wealth distribution have highlighted the complexities of this issue. Achieving a global agreement and overcoming these difficulties will require a level of trust and cooperation between nations that currently appears difficult to achieve.
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