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The demise of sterling as an international currency was widely predicted after 1945, but the process took thirty years to complete. Why was this demise so prolonged? Traditional explanations emphasize British efforts to prolong sterling's role because it increased the capacity to borrow, enhanced prestige, or supported London as a centre for international finance. This book challenges this view by arguing that sterling's international role was prolonged by the weakness of the international monetary system and by collective global interest in its continuation. Using the archives of Britain's partners in Europe, the USA and the Commonwealth, Catherine Schenk shows how the UK was able to convince other governments that sterling's international role was critical for the stability of the international economy and thereby attract considerable support to manage its retreat. This revised view has important implications for current debates over the future of the US dollar as an international currency.
Sterling in Decline takes the devaluations of 1931, 1949 and 1967 as a metaphor for Britain's changing position in the world economy. It traces the decline of the pound sterling from the world's pre-eminent currency, together with the dollar's rise to prominence. It also challenges the conventional wisdom regarding the implications of events in foreign exchange markets, and of British foreign economic policy generally, for the macroeconomic performance of the British economy. This second edition features a new introduction that frames the analysis in light of subsequent contributions and brings the story up to date. It draws out the implications of sterling's troubled 20th century history for the country's decision of whether to adopt the euro.
"The demise of sterling as an international currency was widely predicted after 1945, but the process took thirty years to complete. Why was this demise so prolonged? Traditional explanations emphasize British efforts to prolong sterling's role because it increased the capacity to borrow, enhanced prestige, or supported London as a centre for international finance. This book challenges this view by arguing that sterling's international role was prolonged by the weakness of the international monetary system and by collective global interest in its continuation. Using the archives of Britain's partners in Europe, the USA and the Commonwealth, Catherine Schenk shows how the UK was able to convince other governments that sterling's international role was critical for the stability of the international economy and thereby attract considerable support to manage its retreat. This revised view has important implications for current debates over the future of the U.S. dollar as an international currency"--Provided by publisher.
Why is sterling under pressure? Why was the devaluation in 1967 followed by stagnation of British economy? What do the 1971 monetary reforms mean for sterling in the 1970s? First published in 1973, The Functions of Sterling discusses these vital questions and challenges the received wisdom of those who tells us it is beneficial that our money should be worth less. It also examines critically the internal and external performance of sterling throughout the twentieth century. The book argues that the credit control policy offers a real possibility of improved economic growth and encourage the revaluation of sterling. To a large extent the book is in line with Sir Ralph Hawtrey’s reasoning and also integrates monetary economics with "real" problems of comparative costs, innovations, and growth. This book is an essential read for scholars of British economy, public policy, political economy, and economics in general.
To complement current work on the British domestic economy in the post-war period it is necessary to examine external economic policy. Whilst considerable work has been done on Britain's relations with Europe and with America, the complexities of the sterling area have remained obscure. This volume makes a significant contribution to unravelling the strands of British external economic policy in the post-war period.