Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis (40 page)
Read Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis Online
Authors: James Rickards
Tags: #Business & Economics
BOOK: Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis
7.18Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
Jon Faust of the Johns Hopkins Center for Financial Economics and Sebastian Mallaby of the Council on Foreign Relations were both generous with their time in reading the manuscript and offering expert comments. Of course, the views expressed in this book are mine and not necessarily theirs. Thank you both.
This time I really did save the best for last. Enormous thanks and highest professional respect are owed to Will Rickards, pride of the University of Colorado and Taft School, for serving as my research assistant and editorial assistant. Any clarity and coherence in this book emerged under his watchful and demanding eye. Any errors that remain are mine alone.
NOTES
3
“The current international currency system is the . . .”
“Q&A with Hu Jintao,”
Wall Street Journal
, January 18, 2011,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703551604576085514147521334.html
.
“The current international currency system is the . . .”
“Q&A with Hu Jintao,”
Wall Street Journal
, January 18, 2011,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703551604576085514147521334.html
.
3
The Applied Physics Laboratory, located on four hundred acres . . .
Information on the history and activities of the Applied Physics Laboratory is from the center’s website,
www.jhuapl.edu
.
The Applied Physics Laboratory, located on four hundred acres . . .
Information on the history and activities of the Applied Physics Laboratory is from the center’s website,
www.jhuapl.edu
.
4
It was for this purpose, the conduct of a war game sponsored by the Pentagon . . .
Details about the financial war game sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and hosted by the Warfare Analysis Laboratory of the Applied Physics Laboratory are from the author’s recollection and contemporaneous notes and from voluminous materials provided by the Applied Physics Laboratory, including agendas, seating charts, invitational e-mails and game materials: “Economic and Finance Game Player Book,” “Economic & Finance Game Mechanics,” “Economic & Finance Game Overview,” “Administrative Instructions—Global Economic Seminar 7–8 October 2008,” “Administrative Instructions—Global Economic & Finance Game Design Planning Seminar 18–19 November 2008,” “Economic and Financial Game Baseline Scenario—March 17, 2009,” “Global Economic Impacts on the DoD Final Report 31 March, 2010,” and “Global Economic Study: Appendix D: Economic Game 17–18 March 2009.”
Chapter 3It was for this purpose, the conduct of a war game sponsored by the Pentagon . . .
Details about the financial war game sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and hosted by the Warfare Analysis Laboratory of the Applied Physics Laboratory are from the author’s recollection and contemporaneous notes and from voluminous materials provided by the Applied Physics Laboratory, including agendas, seating charts, invitational e-mails and game materials: “Economic and Finance Game Player Book,” “Economic & Finance Game Mechanics,” “Economic & Finance Game Overview,” “Administrative Instructions—Global Economic Seminar 7–8 October 2008,” “Administrative Instructions—Global Economic & Finance Game Design Planning Seminar 18–19 November 2008,” “Economic and Financial Game Baseline Scenario—March 17, 2009,” “Global Economic Impacts on the DoD Final Report 31 March, 2010,” and “Global Economic Study: Appendix D: Economic Game 17–18 March 2009.”
37
“We’re in the midst of an international . . .”
Jonathan Wheatly, “Brazil in ‘Currency War’ Alert,”
Financial Times
, September 27, 2010.
“We’re in the midst of an international . . .”
Jonathan Wheatly, “Brazil in ‘Currency War’ Alert,”
Financial Times
, September 27, 2010.
37
“I don’t like the expression . . .”
Interview with Dominique Strauss-Kahn by
Stern
magazine, November 18, 2010,
www.imf.org/external/np/vc/2010/111810.htm
.
“I don’t like the expression . . .”
Interview with Dominique Strauss-Kahn by
Stern
magazine, November 18, 2010,
www.imf.org/external/np/vc/2010/111810.htm
.
44
The classical gold standard was not devised at an international conference . . .
This extended discussion of the classical gold standard draws upon Giulio M. Gallarotti,
The Anatomy of an International Monetary Regime: The Classical Gold Standard, 1880–1914
, New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
The classical gold standard was not devised at an international conference . . .
This extended discussion of the classical gold standard draws upon Giulio M. Gallarotti,
The Anatomy of an International Monetary Regime: The Classical Gold Standard, 1880–1914
, New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
45
“Among that group of nations that eventually gravitated to gold standards . . .”
Gallarotti, op. cit.
“Among that group of nations that eventually gravitated to gold standards . . .”
Gallarotti, op. cit.
45
This highly positive assessment by Gallarotti . . .
Michael David Bordo, “The Classical Gold Standard: Some Lessons for Today,” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, May 1981.
This highly positive assessment by Gallarotti . . .
Michael David Bordo, “The Classical Gold Standard: Some Lessons for Today,” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, May 1981.
48
This panic began amid a failed attempt by several New York banks
. . . This account of the Panic of 1907 draws upon Robert F. Bruner and Sean D. Carr,
The Panic of 1907: Lessons Learned from the Market’s Perfect Storm
, Hoboken: Wiley, 2007.
This panic began amid a failed attempt by several New York banks
. . . This account of the Panic of 1907 draws upon Robert F. Bruner and Sean D. Carr,
The Panic of 1907: Lessons Learned from the Market’s Perfect Storm
, Hoboken: Wiley, 2007.
50
Now, literally in the rubble of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
. . . This account of the creation of the Federal Reserve System draws upon Murray N. Rothbard,
The Case Against the Fed
, Auburn, Alabama: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 1994.
Now, literally in the rubble of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
. . . This account of the creation of the Federal Reserve System draws upon Murray N. Rothbard,
The Case Against the Fed
, Auburn, Alabama: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 1994.
53
However, a successful negotiation in Paris was by no means a foregone conclusion
. . . This account of the negotiations with respect to reparations at the end of World War I draws upon Margaret MacMillan,
Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World
, New York: Random House, 2001.
However, a successful negotiation in Paris was by no means a foregone conclusion
. . . This account of the negotiations with respect to reparations at the end of World War I draws upon Margaret MacMillan,
Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World
, New York: Random House, 2001.
54
The entire mechanism of credit and trade was frozen . . .
MacMillan, op. cit.
Chapter 4The entire mechanism of credit and trade was frozen . . .
MacMillan, op. cit.
58
As inflation slowly began to take off in late 1921
. . . This account of the Weimar hyperinflation of 1921–1923 and its impact on the German people draws upon Adam Fergusson,
When Money Dies: The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar Germany
, New York: Public Affairs, 2010.
As inflation slowly began to take off in late 1921
. . . This account of the Weimar hyperinflation of 1921–1923 and its impact on the German people draws upon Adam Fergusson,
When Money Dies: The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar Germany
, New York: Public Affairs, 2010.
61
At exactly the same time the Weimar hyperinflation was spiraling out of control
. . . The accounts of the interwar beggar-thy-neighbor devaluations and international financial conferences intended to mitigate their effects draws upon Liaquat Ahamed,
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
, New York: Penguin Press, 2009.
At exactly the same time the Weimar hyperinflation was spiraling out of control
. . . The accounts of the interwar beggar-thy-neighbor devaluations and international financial conferences intended to mitigate their effects draws upon Liaquat Ahamed,
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
, New York: Penguin Press, 2009.
65
Separately, the United States, after cutting interest rates in 1927
. . . For accounts of U.S. monetary policy in the years prior to the Great Depression and the conclusion that Federal Reserve monetary policy was unduly restrictive, see Milton Friedman and Anna Jacobson Schwartz,
A Monetary History of the United States, 1867–1960
, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1963.
Separately, the United States, after cutting interest rates in 1927
. . . For accounts of U.S. monetary policy in the years prior to the Great Depression and the conclusion that Federal Reserve monetary policy was unduly restrictive, see Milton Friedman and Anna Jacobson Schwartz,
A Monetary History of the United States, 1867–1960
, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1963.
68
However, Roosevelt would not be sworn in as president until March 1933
. . . For an account of the early years of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and his actions with respect to the banking system and gold, see Allan H. Meltzer,
A History of the Federal Reserve, Volume 1: 1913–1951
, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
However, Roosevelt would not be sworn in as president until March 1933
. . . For an account of the early years of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and his actions with respect to the banking system and gold, see Allan H. Meltzer,
A History of the Federal Reserve, Volume 1: 1913–1951
, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
71
“I, Franklin D. Roosevelt . . . declare that
. . .
”
Executive Order 6102, April 5, 1933,
www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14611&st=&st1=#axzz1LXd02JEK
.
Chapter 5“I, Franklin D. Roosevelt . . . declare that
. . .
”
Executive Order 6102, April 5, 1933,
www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14611&st=&st1=#axzz1LXd02JEK
.
79
Gross national product rose over 5 percent in the first year of the tax cuts
. . . All statistics for United States gross domestic product are from the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Economic Accounts Data,
www.bea.gov
.
Gross national product rose over 5 percent in the first year of the tax cuts
. . . All statistics for United States gross domestic product are from the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Economic Accounts Data,
www.bea.gov
.
80
Inflation, measured year over year, almost doubled from an acceptable 1.9 percent in 1965
. . . All statistics for United States inflation (consumer price index) are from the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
http://data.bls.gov
.
Inflation, measured year over year, almost doubled from an acceptable 1.9 percent in 1965
. . . All statistics for United States inflation (consumer price index) are from the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
http://data.bls.gov
.
80
The British balance of payments had been deteriorating since the early 1960s
. . . Richard Roberts, “Sterling and the End of Bretton Woods,” XIV International Economic History Congress, University of Helsinki, Finland, 2006.
The British balance of payments had been deteriorating since the early 1960s
. . . Richard Roberts, “Sterling and the End of Bretton Woods,” XIV International Economic History Congress, University of Helsinki, Finland, 2006.
82
He called for a return to the classical gold standard
. . . “Money: De Gaulle v. the Dollar,”
Time
, February 12, 1965.
He called for a return to the classical gold standard
. . . “Money: De Gaulle v. the Dollar,”
Time
, February 12, 1965.
83
revealed in a letter from Karl Blessing, president of the Deutsche Bundesbank . . .
Letter of Karl Blessing to William McChesney Martin, March 30, 1967, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, Austin, Texas,
www.lbjlibrary.org
.
revealed in a letter from Karl Blessing, president of the Deutsche Bundesbank . . .
Letter of Karl Blessing to William McChesney Martin, March 30, 1967, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, Austin, Texas,
www.lbjlibrary.org
.
84
On November 29, 1968, not long after the collapse of the London Gold Pool
. . . “The Monetary System: What’s Wrong and What Might Be Done,”
Time
, November 29, 1968.
On November 29, 1968, not long after the collapse of the London Gold Pool
. . . “The Monetary System: What’s Wrong and What Might Be Done,”
Time
, November 29, 1968.
86
Nixon wrapped his actions in the American flag
. . . Richard M. Nixon, “Address to the Nation Outlining a New Economic Policy: ‘The Challenge of Peace,’” August 15, 1971,
www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/indexphp?pid=3115#axzz1LXd02JEK
.
Chapter 6Nixon wrapped his actions in the American flag
. . . Richard M. Nixon, “Address to the Nation Outlining a New Economic Policy: ‘The Challenge of Peace,’” August 15, 1971,
www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/indexphp?pid=3115#axzz1LXd02JEK
.
98
“The purpose . . . is not to push the dollar down . . .” Wall Street Journal
, “Fed’s Yellen Defends Bond-Purchase Plan,” November 16, 2010,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703670004575617000774399856.html
.
“The purpose . . . is not to push the dollar down . . .” Wall Street Journal
, “Fed’s Yellen Defends Bond-Purchase Plan,” November 16, 2010,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703670004575617000774399856.html
.
98
“quantitative easing also works through exchange rates . . .”
Christina D. Romer, “The Debate That’s Muting the Fed’s Response,”
New York Times
, February 26, 2011,
www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/business/27view.html
.
“quantitative easing also works through exchange rates . . .”
Christina D. Romer, “The Debate That’s Muting the Fed’s Response,”
New York Times
, February 26, 2011,
www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/business/27view.html
.
101
Today’s currency war is marked by claims of Chinese undervaluation . . .
For a discussion on the history of exchange rate changes between the Chinese yuan and the U.S. dollar, see Xiaohe Zhang, “The Economic Impact of the Chinese Yuan Revolution,” paper prepared for the 18th Annual Conference of the Association for Chinese Economic Studies, Australia, July 13, 2006.
Today’s currency war is marked by claims of Chinese undervaluation . . .
For a discussion on the history of exchange rate changes between the Chinese yuan and the U.S. dollar, see Xiaohe Zhang, “The Economic Impact of the Chinese Yuan Revolution,” paper prepared for the 18th Annual Conference of the Association for Chinese Economic Studies, Australia, July 13, 2006.
103
The resulting decline . . .
Statistics on United States interest rates are from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Statistics and Historic Data,
www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/releases/statisticsdata.htm
.
The resulting decline . . .
Statistics on United States interest rates are from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Statistics and Historic Data,
www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/releases/statisticsdata.htm
.
104
The speech, entitled “Deflation . . .”
“Deflation: Making Sure ‘It’ Doesn’t Happen Here,” remarks by Ben S. Bernanke, National Economists Club, November 21, 2002,
www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2002/20021121/default.htm
.
The speech, entitled “Deflation . . .”
“Deflation: Making Sure ‘It’ Doesn’t Happen Here,” remarks by Ben S. Bernanke, National Economists Club, November 21, 2002,
www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2002/20021121/default.htm
.
104
Bernanke spoke plainly about . .
. Bernanke, op. cit.
Bernanke spoke plainly about . .
. Bernanke, op. cit.
106
In 2006, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York called . . .
Press release from the office of United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, February 19, 2006,
http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=259425
.
In 2006, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York called . . .
Press release from the office of United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, February 19, 2006,
http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=259425
.
108
In 1950, the United States had official gold reserves of over 20,000 metric tons . . .
All statistics on official gold holdings are from World Gold Council, Investment Statistics, Changes in World Official Gold Reserves,
www.gold.org
.
In 1950, the United States had official gold reserves of over 20,000 metric tons . . .
All statistics on official gold holdings are from World Gold Council, Investment Statistics, Changes in World Official Gold Reserves,
www.gold.org
.
112
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators . . .
“U.S. and China Agree to Negotiate Investment Treaty,” Associated Press, June 19, 2008.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators . . .
“U.S. and China Agree to Negotiate Investment Treaty,” Associated Press, June 19, 2008.
117
By 2010, European sovereign finance was a gigantic complex web composed of cross-holdings of debt . . .
The discussion of European sovereign debt cross-holdings by banks is from “Europe’s Web of Debt,”
New York Times
, May 1, 2010,
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/02/weekinreview/02marsh.html
.
By 2010, European sovereign finance was a gigantic complex web composed of cross-holdings of debt . . .
The discussion of European sovereign debt cross-holdings by banks is from “Europe’s Web of Debt,”
New York Times
, May 1, 2010,
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/02/weekinreview/02marsh.html
.
121
As late as 1994, Brazil maintained a peg of its currency, the real, to the U.S. dollar . . .
The discussion of Brazilian currency crises and developments draws on Riordan Roett,
The New Brazil
, Washington, D.C .: Brookings Institute Press, 2010.
Chapter 7As late as 1994, Brazil maintained a peg of its currency, the real, to the U.S. dollar . . .
The discussion of Brazilian currency crises and developments draws on Riordan Roett,
The New Brazil
, Washington, D.C .: Brookings Institute Press, 2010.
127
Author David Rothkopf brought this concept to light . . .
David Rothkopf,
Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They Are Making
, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008, 174–75.
Author David Rothkopf brought this concept to light . . .
David Rothkopf,
Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They Are Making
, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008, 174–75.
127
“We have a convening power here that is separate from the formal authority of our institution . . .”
Rothkopf, op. cit.
“We have a convening power here that is separate from the formal authority of our institution . . .”
Rothkopf, op. cit.
132
The plan was contained in the official leaders’ statement . . .
“Leaders’ Statement: A Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth,” G20 Pittsburgh Summit, September 24–25, 2009,
www.cfr.org/world/g20-leaders-final-statement-pittsburgh-summit-framework-strong-sustainable-balanced-growth/p20299
.
The plan was contained in the official leaders’ statement . . .
“Leaders’ Statement: A Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth,” G20 Pittsburgh Summit, September 24–25, 2009,
www.cfr.org/world/g20-leaders-final-statement-pittsburgh-summit-framework-strong-sustainable-balanced-growth/p20299
.
132
“Our collective response to the crisis has . . .”
“Leaders’ Statement,” op. cit.
“Our collective response to the crisis has . . .”
“Leaders’ Statement,” op. cit.
137
“Policy makers in the emerging markets have a range of powerful . . .”
“Global Imbalances: Links to Economic and Financial Stability,” speech by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke at the Banque de France Financial Stability Review Launch Event, Paris, France, February 18, 2011,
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20110218a.htm
.
“Policy makers in the emerging markets have a range of powerful . . .”
“Global Imbalances: Links to Economic and Financial Stability,” speech by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke at the Banque de France Financial Stability Review Launch Event, Paris, France, February 18, 2011,
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20110218a.htm
.
139
Instead of setting firm targets . . .
“Leaders’ Declaration,” G20 Seoul Summit, November 11–12, 2010,
www.g20.utoronto.ca/2010/g20seoul.pdf
.
Chapter 8Instead of setting firm targets . . .
“Leaders’ Declaration,” G20 Seoul Summit, November 11–12, 2010,
www.g20.utoronto.ca/2010/g20seoul.pdf
.
145
“It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come . . .”
Sun Tzu,
The Art of War
, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1963.
“It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come . . .”
Sun Tzu,
The Art of War
, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1963.
146
“U.S. officials and outside analysts said the Pentagon, the Treasury and U.S. intelligence agencies . . .”
Bill Gertz, “Financial Terrorism Suspected in 2008 Economic Crash,”
Washington Times
, February 28, 2011,
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/28/financial-terrorism-suspected-in-08-economic-crash/print/
.
“U.S. officials and outside analysts said the Pentagon, the Treasury and U.S. intelligence agencies . . .”
Bill Gertz, “Financial Terrorism Suspected in 2008 Economic Crash,”
Washington Times
, February 28, 2011,
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/28/financial-terrorism-suspected-in-08-economic-crash/print/
.
149
While these companies operated as private stock companies . . .
Material on mercantilism and the history of the East India Company and the Dutch East India Company draws from Stephen R. Brown,
Merchant Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1600–1900
, New York: St. Martin’s, 2009.
While these companies operated as private stock companies . . .
Material on mercantilism and the history of the East India Company and the Dutch East India Company draws from Stephen R. Brown,
Merchant Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1600–1900
, New York: St. Martin’s, 2009.
160
The clearest exposition of Chinese thinking on financial warfare . . .
Colonel Qiao Liang and Colonel Wang Xiangsui,
Unrestricted Warfare
, Panama City: Pan American Publishing, 2002.
The clearest exposition of Chinese thinking on financial warfare . . .
Colonel Qiao Liang and Colonel Wang Xiangsui,
Unrestricted Warfare
, Panama City: Pan American Publishing, 2002.
163
In a single transaction in 2009, SAFE transferred its entire position . . .
“China Admits to Building Up Stockpile of Gold,” Reuters, April 24, 2009.
In a single transaction in 2009, SAFE transferred its entire position . . .
“China Admits to Building Up Stockpile of Gold,” Reuters, April 24, 2009.
Other books
Duplicity by Charles Anikpe
Between the Lies (Book One - The Northern Lights Series) by DeKok, Joy
A Girl Like Gracie by Scarlett Haven
Sweet Temptation by Angel Steel
The Hunger by Eckford, Janet
The Informant by Susan Wilkins
Distant Fires by D.A. Woodward
Sister's Choice by Emilie Richards
Llama for Lunch by Lydia Laube
Drawing Closer by Jane Davitt
