1. Principles & Policies I: Macroeconomics
Chapter 18: International Financial Policy
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

2. Chapter 18 Learning Objectives. You should be able to:
Describe the balance of payments and the trade balance, and relate them to the supply and demand for currencies.
List four important fundamental determinants of exchange rates.
Explain how a country fixes an exchange rate.
Define purchasing power parity and explain its relevance to the debate about whether to have a fixed or flexible exchange rate.
Differentiate fixed, flexible, and partially flexible exchange rates, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Discuss advantages and disadvantages of a common currency.
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

3. Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004
Balance of Payments
Current account (receipts from exports, payments from imports)
Capital account (receipts from investments in U.S., payments from investment by Americans in foreign countries)
Official transaction account (receipts from sale of U.S. $, payments from purchase of U.S. $
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

4. Fundamental Forces Determining Exchange Rates
Changes in a country’s income.
Changes in country’s prices.
Changes in interest rates.
Changes in trade policy.
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

5. Purchasing Power Parity
A method of calculating exchange rates that attempts to value currencies at rates such that each currency will buy an equal basket of goods.
Creates a balance in trade. When a country has an inflation, its currency depreciates.
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

6. Fixing the exchange rate
Standing ready to buy and sell the currency at a given price.
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

7. Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004
Fixed Exchange Rates
Advantages
International monetary stability.
Forces governments to keep inflation down.
Disadvantages
Imbalances create potential of a speculative attack.
Governments lose freedom in conducting macroeconomic policy.
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

8. George Soros vs. Bank of England
Plus $1.1 billion
Minus $1.1 billion
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

9. Flexible Exchange Rates
Advantages
Orderly, incremental adjustments of exchange rates.
Freedom in conducting macroeconomic policy.
Disadvantages
Speculation in currencies causes volatility.
Allows governments to inflate the currency.
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

10. Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004
Common Currency
Advantages
Eliminates costs of exchanging currencies.
Facilitates price comparisons.
Creates a larger market.
Disadvantage
Loss of control over monetary policy
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004

11. Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004
Euroland
12 Member States of the European Union are participating in the single currency:
Belgium
Germany
Greece
Spain
France
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Austria
Portugal
Finland
Maclachlan, Macroeconomics Fall 2004