What were the distinctive features of bretton woods system?
Answers
Explanation:
The Bretton Woods system as a monetary management system was set as the rules for commercial and financial relations among the world’s major industrial nations. The planners at Bretton Woods established the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) (now known as one of the five institutions in the World Bank Group) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The reason behind setting up such a system of rules, institutions, and procedures was to manipulate the international monetary system. After satisfactory number of countries had ratified the agreement, this system became operational in the year 1946. Under main features of the Bretton Woods system, it was an obligation for each country to adopt a monetary policy that maintained the exchange rate of its currency within a fixed value. This value was expressed in terms of gold and the ability of the IMF to bridge temporary imbalances of payments. In the face of increasing strain, the system collapsed in 1971, following the United States’ suspension of convertibility from dollars to gold. By this time, due to inflation in the United States and a growing short fall in American trade were depressing the value of the dollar. Americans advocated Germany and Japan to appreciate their currencies. But both of the countries already had favorable payments balances. And both of the nations were disinclined to this decision. Because of the reason that raising their currency value might result in increased prices for there goods and which can further affect their exports. Lastly, the United States neglected the fixed rate of the dollar and allowed it at “float” rate. This meant to change the value of dollar against other currencies. The value of dollar swiftly started falling down. World leaders wanted to stimulate the Bretton Woods system in 1971, but the effort failed. By 1973, the float rate system was adopted by United States and other nations.
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