China is intervening in currency markets to make its own currency cheaper, which allows for chinese goods to be less expensive then in the USA. The U.S. Senate is seeking an official investigation into this and if it concludes that China is keeping its currency artificially low then retaliatory tariffs will be set in place.
This article discusses international trade between the US and China. This article talks about differences in currency value between the two countries and how the US is trying to solve these currency imbalances in order to lower unemployment in the US.
The undervalued and overvalued currencies are having a war against each other - each struggling to either lower or maintain their value. Since the worth of the currency strongly affects exports, this phenomenon is quite crucial to our lives. The article presents the issue through the prices of Big Macs.
Over the weekend there were proposals that Germany and the other 5 AAA-rated nations of Europe might start jointly issuing 'Elite' bonds. Pound rates are today being driven by attitude to risk - and what a morning it has been. Equity markets have surged, and risk associated currencies such as the Australian dollar have moved higher.
Updated March 21, 2011 12:27:44
The US dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen on Friday, after Japan and its Group of Seven partners stepped in to help the central bank force down the value of the currency.
In a rare move, the powerful G7 agreed to a joint intervention to stabilize foreign exchange markets.
A strong yen risks further destabilising Japan's economy
This article is another one that describes the reasons for the controversial China currency bill that many US senators are trying to pass. While this bill has the right idea that the US needs to reduce the many imports from China, the reason being that China is undervaluing the yuan may just be an excuse.
"China on Sunday urged Washington to stop pressuring Beijing as the US Senate prepares to vote on a controversial bill aimed at punishing the Asian nation for alleged currency manipulation."
The U.S. government is very unhappy with China's dealings with their currency and policies regarding said fiasco. We are en route to passing a very controversial bill to reprimand China for its backhanded actions.
manufacturing in China is about to get far more expensive.Soaring labor costs caused by worker shortages and unrest, a strengthening Chinese currency that makes exports more expensive, and inflation and rising housing costs are all threatening to sharply increase the cost of making devices like iphone
The article discusses price controls (ceiling prices) as a remedy for rising inflation in certain Asian economies (all above 4 %). The ceiling price was employed on food prices that were the main cause for rising inflation. The price controls were an alternative to raising interest rates which would raise the value of the local currencies by attracting foreign capital. The article discusses the feasibility of price controls as short term vs long term solutions. It states that price controls reduce incentives and efficiency in the long run by not rewarding producers appropriately. Nevertheless, they are effective in this particular case since the rise in price of food (pork rose 60 %) was mainly attributed to supply irregularities. If the price rises were caused through excessive demand, then price controls would perhaps not be as beneficial in the short run since the likelihood of a black market developing/smuggling would be much higher.
China's inflation rate has been growing over the years, however, some economic experts say that inflation is a healthier way to rebalance China's economy than currency appreciation.
The article discusses the stability and growth Pact that regulates EU member states' budgets, and its impact on fiscal policy on member nations. Another dimension of fiscal policy is its political implications, and the article articulates this dilemma. Particularly in the case of the EU, where one government's spending has an effect on all other countries as the currency is common, a government's fiscal policy adjustments have political impacts. thus, aside from the economic implications, governments must consider the political ramifications of their actions before implementing fiscal policy.