The Bretton Woods International Monetary System: An Historical Overview

   (1103 K)

This paper presents an overview of the Bretton Woods experience. From an historical perspective. I analyze its performance relative to other international monetary regimes. its origins. its operation. its problems and its demise. In the survey I emphasize both issues deemed important at the time and raise questions which may be of interest for the concerns of the present. Part 2 compares the macro performance of Bretton Woods with preceding and subsequent monetary regimes. The descriptive statistics on nine key macro variables point to one startling conclusion -- the Bretton Woods system. in its full convertibility phase 1959-1971, was the most stable regime for both nominal and real variables in the past century. Part 3 surveys the origins of Bretton Woods: the perceived problems of the inter war period; the plans for a new international monetary order and the steps leading to the outcome -- the Articles of Agreement. Part 4 examines the preconvertibility period from 1946 to 1958: the problems in getting the system started including the dollar shortage and the weakness of the IMF; and how the system evolved to convertibility and the gold dollar standard. Part 5 analyzes the heyday of Bretton Woods 1959 to 1971 in the context of the gold dollar standard and the famous three problems: adjustment. liquidity, and confidence. Part 6 considers the emergence of a "de facto" dollar standard in 1968 and its collapse in the face of a massive U.S. induced inflation. Part 7 considers why Bretton Woods was so stable and yet so short-lived. It also considers the importance of adherence to credible rules in the design of an effective international monetary system.

Published:

• A Retrospective on the Bretton Woods System, edited by Michael D. Bordo and Barry Eichengreen, pp. 3-98. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993. ,
• Bordo, Michael D. "The Gold Standard, Bretton Woods And Other Monetary Regimes: A Historical Appraisal," FRB Saint Louis - Review, 1993, v75(2), 123-191. ,
• The Bretton Woods International Monetary System: A Historical Overview, Michael D. Bordo, in A Retrospective on the Bretton Woods System: Lessons for International Monetary Reform (1993), University of Chicago Press
  

This paper is available as PDF (1103 K) or via email.

Machine-readable bibliographic record - MARC, RIS, BibTeX