The Stability of the Gold Standard and the Evolution of the International Monetary System

32 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2006

See all articles by Tamim Bayoumi

Tamim Bayoumi

International Monetary Fund (IMF); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Barry Eichengreen

University of California, Berkeley; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Date Written: September 1995

Abstract

This paper examines some popular explanations for the smooth operation of the pre-1914 gold standard. We find that the rapid adjustment of economies to underlying disturbances played an important role in stabilizing output and employment under the gold standard system, but no evidence that this success also reflected relatively small underlying disturbances. Finally, the paper also suggests an explanation for the evolution of the international monetary system based on growing nominal inertia over time.

JEL Classification: F33, N10

Suggested Citation

Bayoumi, Tamim and Eichengreen, Barry, The Stability of the Gold Standard and the Evolution of the International Monetary System (September 1995). IMF Working Paper No. 95/89, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=883236

Tamim Bayoumi (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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Barry Eichengreen

University of California, Berkeley ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

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