Saleha Mohsin, a Senior Washington Correspondent at Bloomberg and author of 'Paper Soldiers', delves into the complex world of dollar dominance. She examines why countries are seeking alternatives to the U.S. dollar and the potential risks of de-dollarization for global economies. The discussion touches on China's rising influence and the challenges facing currencies like the euro and yuan. Mohsin also explores how fluctuations in dollar power could impact U.S. economic stability and the geopolitical landscape.
The U.S. dollar's longstanding dominance as a reserve currency provides significant geopolitical power, influencing global economic dynamics and interest rates.
Emerging coalitions like BRICS are seeking alternatives to the dollar, primarily the euro and yuan, though both face critical limitations for global adoption.
Deep dives
The Dominance of the Dollar and Challenges Ahead
The U.S. dollar has long served as the world's reserve currency, largely since the Bretton Woods agreement in 1944. Its status as a predominant unit in international transactions offers significant geopolitical power to the United States, impacting everything from interest rates to economic leverage. However, there is a rising trend among certain global coalitions, such as BRICS, to explore alternatives, signaling an intent to de-dollarize. This movement, although still in its early stages, could gain momentum if U.S. domestic issues lead to a loss of faith in the nation's democratic institutions.
Potential Alternatives to the Dollar
Countries seeking to move away from the dollar are primarily considering the Chinese yuan and the euro as alternatives, but both lack critical attributes needed for global dominance. The euro suffers from inadequate debt instruments, and the yuan is hindered by a lack of transparency, making them less appealing to investors. Although cryptocurrencies are mentioned as possible substitutes, their dependence on government backing has kept them from gaining reserve asset status. The ongoing discussions and summits indicate that while the transition could happen, it may require significant shifts in both U.S. policies and global economic structures before a true alternative to the dollar is established.
The world runs on dollars. It's the most commonly used currency in international transactions, an important reserve for central banks around the world, and a safe haven in troubled times. There are, however, some countries trying to move away from King Dollar, so what effect is it having? Bloomberg's Senior Washington Correspondent Saleha Mohsin wrote a book on the subject, called 'Paper Soldiers'. She joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.