CIAO DATE: 01/2013

The Dollar and Its Discontents

May 2012

Peterson Institute for International Economics

Abstract

Has the US dollar delivered the benefit that the rest of the world is expecting from its holdings of international liquidity? US government debt has been liquid and safe, and it is supplied in sufficient quantity. But it has given a low return to the countries that accumulated the most reserves, especially when those returns are measured in terms of the countries' own consumption. Jeanne argues that countries that accumulate the most reserves should expect a low return in terms of their own consumption and that international monetary reform can do little to change that fact.

Resource link: The Dollar and Its Discontents [PDF] - 462K