Understanding the Gold Standard:
New Lessons from an Old
Rule
a conference at the
University of
Notre Dame
Sponsored by the
International Studies and Nanovic Institute
for European Studies, and the
Conference Organizers:
Layna Mosley (
Roland Stephen (
Conference Summary
While there has been significant analysis of
the origins of the pre-WWI gold standard, there has been less research into its
consequences. A clear understanding of the long-term political and social
consequences
of fixed monetary commitments is more important than ever, especially given the
adoption of a single currency in
endogenous to
the political forces unleashed by its adoption.
More specifically, the papers analyze the implications of the gold standard for tariffs, sovereign debt, financial institutions, immigration, and imperialism. "Understanding the Gold Standard" will address a significant deficiency in the literature on credible monetary commitments. Existing studies often view the issue as a specific form of a time-inconsistency problem. Our approach takes a broader view, shared by others who analyze the political equilibria underpinning macro-economic stability pacts. The problems that flowed from such a commitment were political, and were multiplied as the number of parties to that commitment grew. Simply stated, the interests and institutions in place when the commitment was first adopted were inevitably disrupted by the spread of its operation.
Click here for a list of Participants and Papers
For more information about the Conference, contact Layna Mosley.
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