At the time of a collapse, no one really knows what the market equilibrium exchange rate should be, and it makes some sense to let market forces (i.e., supply and demand) determine the equilibrium rate. One of the key advantages of floating rates is the autonomy over monetary policy that it affords a country’s central bank. When used wisely, monetary policy discretion can provide a useful mechanism for guiding a national economy. A central bank can inject money into the system when the economic growth slows or falls, or it can reduce money when excessively rapid growth leads to inflationary tendencies. Since monetary policy acts much more rapidly than fiscal policy, it is a much quicker policy lever to use to help control the economy.

This system had relative success and lasted over 30 years without much issue. However, the wheels started to come off in the 1960s during the presidencies triangles in trading of John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson. The US was heavily funding the Vietnam war, whilst also undertaking Johnson’s ‘Great Society’ policy.

Worsening of Economic Issues

There are several benefits of a floating exchange rate, which define why the floating rate is good. A free floating exchange rate system is one where the government does not intervene, whatsoever, in determining the exchange rate. This increase in demand for US exports will also increase the demand for US dollars.

• But it is probable that the primary reason for establishing them in developing countries is based more on political reasons.
• The floating exchange rate represents economic growth through changes in long-term currency prices.
• But many developing countries that have adopted fixed exchange rates are not well integrated with the economy to which they are linked .
• Since 2000, the annual inflation rate in developing countries has averaged about 6%.

Difficulty in keeping the value of the currency – One of the disadvantages of a fixed exchange rate is that it can be difficult to keep the value of the currency stable. This can be especially problematic when there is a large deficit or an excess of currency in one country. When this happens, the value of the currency will decline, making imports more expensive and exports cheaper. Keeps inflation low – A fixed exchange rate is a policy where the currency of a country is fixed to another currency. This prevents the country’s inflation from increasing and helps to keep the prices of goods and services affordable for citizens.

Difference Between a Fixed and Floating Currency Exchange Rate

Is one where the government does not intervene, whatsoever, in determining the exchange rate. Explain how currency and foreign exchange issues can affect the Fed Ex strategy and performance in Vietnam. The differences in currency values can affect our ability to buy imports or sell exports, affecting our standard of living. Explain how a currency crisis in another country can affect our economy and our lives in the United States.

Floating exchange rates tend to result in uncertainty as to the future rate at which currencies will exchange. This uncertainty is responsible for the increased popularity of forward, futures, and option contracts on foreign volatility skew trading strategies currencies. The concept of a completely free-floating exchange rate system is a theoretical one. In practice, all governments or central banks intervene in currency markets in an effort to influence exchange rates.

Fixed Exchange Rates

The currency board seemed to work well for Argentina for most of the 1990s, as inflation subsided and growth of real GDP picked up. Everything has its benefits and drawbacks; it is essential to recognize them both. Therefore, it is time to learn the few shortcomings of the floating exchange rate. Require higher interest rates – Fixed exchange rate requires higher interest rates to keep the currency stable. This makes it difficult for businesses to borrow money in foreign currencies and export their goods. It also makes it more expensive for people to purchase foreign goods.

• After its neighbors devalued, South Korean exporters, already struggling because the Japanese yen had been depreciating, could no longer offer competitive prices.
• A prudent monetary policy is most likely to arise when two conditions are satisfied.
• From then on, major governments adopted a floating system, and all attempts to move back to a global peg were eventually abandoned in 1985.
• Lastly, by reducing trade barriers, a fixed exchange rate encourages worldwide trade and creates jobs across the board.
• In another system, currency values are allowed to change, but governments participate in currency markets in an effort to influence those values.
• Probably the best reason to adopt a fixed exchange rate system is to commit to a loss in monetary autonomy.

As mentioned, floating exchange rates don’t depend on the central bank but on the market. Any differences in the supply and demand will be reflected automatically. If the demand for a certain currency is low, how to become a project manager its value will decrease which results in imported goods being more expensive and thus driving demand for local goods and services. As such, more jobs can be generated through auto-corrections in the market.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Floating Exchange Rates

With each currency’s value fixed in terms of the commodity, currencies are fixed relative to one another. Remember that for Nigeria, it is an inflow of $40 billion while for the US it is an outflow. Because of this, the supply for US dollars increases, thus the supply curve shifts outward from S1 to S2.

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• Economists would disagree that an artificially low exchange rate is in a country’s self interest.
• In a traditional fixed exchange rate regime, the government has agreed to buy or sell any amount of currency at a predetermined rate.
• When exchange rates are fixed but fiscal and monetary policies are not coordinated, equilibrium exchange rates can move away from their fixed levels.

A currency board is not the only way to tie the hands of policymakers; various rules and targets have been devised to eliminate policy discretion that could be used with a floating exchange rate. A currency board may be a more final commitment, and hence harder to renege on, than rules and targets, however. Then again, Argentina proved that even currency boards are not permanent. In any case, the political problem of countries monetizing budget deficits seems to be waning.

Instead, it has autonomy to pursue its monetary policy and economic agenda. It is in contrast to the fixed exchange rate system which relies on central banks to maintain a set rate against a ‘pegged’ currency – usually the Euro or the US dollar. Probably the best reason to adopt a floating exchange rate system is whenever a country has more faith in the ability of its own central bank to maintain prudent monetary policy than any other country’s ability.

Marketing

Still, many countries kept their currenciespegged to the dollar, because the dollar is the world’s reserve currency. The J curve shows that initially, the current account deficit will worsen because the Marshall Lerner’s condition is not met in the short term. In the long term, the current account will improve as the condition holds true and consumers start to realise the gains in the change in the exchange rate. Some countries with a floating exchange rate are the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Chile, and Mexico. Here we will focus on the floating exchange rate, although we will also discuss the managed exchange rate.