IMF Agreements and Exchange Rate Regimes
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Questions and Answers

What was declared acceptable to IMF members under the Jamaica Agreement?

  • Pegged exchange rates
  • Flexible exchange rates (correct)
  • Fixed exchange rates
  • Gold standard
  • What is a characteristic of a fixed exchange rate regime?

  • Value of a country's currency fluctuates freely
  • Value of a country's currency is attached to the value of another single currency (correct)
  • Value of a country's currency is determined by the IMF
  • Value of a country's currency is determined by supply and demand
  • What is a potential drawback of a flexible exchange rate regime?

  • Creates uncertainty due to unpredictability (correct)
  • Requires high foreign reserves
  • Promotes stable international trade
  • Limits economic flexibility
  • What is a benefit of a fixed exchange rate regime?

    <p>Promotes stable international trade</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was officially abandoned as an international reserve asset under the Jamaica Agreement?

    <p>Gold</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a benefit of a flexible exchange rate regime?

    <p>Allows automatic adjustment to economic conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a type of exchange rate regime that allows a country's currency to be attached to the value of another single currency?

    <p>Fixed exchange rate regime</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential drawback of a fixed exchange rate regime?

    <p>Limits economic flexibility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized the international monetary system before the 1870s?

    <p>Bimetallism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the three essential features of the classical gold standard?

    <p>Unrestricted coinage of gold, two-way convertibility, and free export and import of gold</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main characteristic of the interwar period?

    <p>Economic nationalism and halfhearted attempts to restore the gold standard</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was established in Bretton Woods in 1945?

    <p>The International Monetary Fund (IMF)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is characterized by a dollar-based gold-exchange standard?

    <p>The Bretton Woods system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When did the flexible exchange rate regime begin?

    <p>1973</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the Bretton Woods system?

    <p>A coherent international monetary system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main outcome of the interwar period?

    <p>Profoundly detrimental effects on international trade and investment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major risk that firms and individuals are exposed to when conducting cross-border transactions?

    <p>Foreign exchange risk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of market imperfections in international finance?

    <p>Restrictions on portfolio diversification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the overall financial environment in which multinational corporations and international investors operate?

    <p>International Monetary System</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a benefit that firms can gain from venturing into global markets?

    <p>Expanded opportunity set</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of international finance that distinguishes it from domestic finance?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a political risk that multinational corporations may face?

    <p>Changes in tax rules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the risks associated with conducting business in a foreign country?

    <p>Political risk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a stage of evolution of the international monetary system?

    <p>Bimetallism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Jamaica Agreement

    • Flexible exchange rates were declared acceptable to IMF members
    • Central banks were allowed to intervene in exchange markets to iron out unwarranted volatilities
    • Gold was officially abandoned (demonetized) as an international reserve asset
    • Non-oil-exporting countries and less-developed countries were given greater access to IMF funds

    Exchange Rate Regimes

    • Fixed or pegged exchange rate regime:
      • Attaches the value of a country's currency to another currency, a basket of currencies, or a measure of value (e.g. gold)
      • Pros: reduces currency risk and speculation, promotes stable international trade, promotes investment
      • Cons: limits economic flexibility, might require high foreign reserves, can lead to balance of payment deficits or surpluses
    • Flexible or floating exchange rate regime:
      • Value of a country's currency is determined by the open market through supply and demand
      • Pros: allows automatic adjustment to economic conditions, provides independence to domestic monetary policy, facilitates capital mobility
      • Cons: creates uncertainty due to unpredictability, can lead to high inflation due to depreciation, potential for competitive devaluation
    • Crawling pegs: a system where the exchange rate is adjusted gradually over time to correct for inflation or other economic changes

    International Monetary System Evolution

    • Bimetallism (before 1875): both gold and silver were used as international means of payment and exchange rates were determined by their gold or silver contents
    • Classical gold standard (1875-1914): gold alone was assured of unrestricted coinage, with two-way convertibility between gold and national currencies at a stable ratio
    • Interwar period (1915-1944): economic nationalism, attempts to restore the gold standard failed, economic and political instabilities, bank failures, and panicky flights of capital across borders
    • Bretton Woods system (1945-1972): dollar-based gold-exchange standard, established by the IMF
    • Flexible exchange rate regime (since 1973): IMF members met in Jamaica and agreed to a new set of rules for the international monetary system

    International Finance

    • Concerned with topics such as foreign direct investment, currency exchange rates, and financial management
    • Involve issues pertaining to political and foreign exchange risk, managing multinational corporations, foreign exchange exposure, foreign direct investment decisions, and multinational capital budgeting
    • Importance of international finance stems from the highly globalized and integrated world economy
    • Three major dimensions set international finance apart from domestic finance:
      • Foreign exchange and political risks
      • Market imperfections
      • Expanded opportunity set

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    Description

    This quiz covers the key elements of the Jamaica Agreement, including flexible exchange rates, demonetization of gold, and IMF fund access for non-oil-exporting countries. It also introduces exchange rate regimes.

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