06/26/09 Baltimore, Maryland “To prevent the deficiencies in the main reserve currency,” reads a report released today by the People’s Bank of China, “there’s a need to create a new currency that is delinked from the economies of the issuers.”
That’s right, another call from China to ditch the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. “Special drawing rights of the IMF should be given full play,” said the state-run bank, “and the international body should manage part of its members’ reserves.”
We took note a few weeks ago when Brazil, Russia and China cleverly announced an $80 billion swap of IMF bonds for U.S. Treasuries. Factor in today’s report from China and previous similar calls from Russia… perhaps the IMF will be the nexus of this monetary overhaul.
“As BRIC nations have sent up a hue and cry for a supranational currency,” ponders our currency adviser Bill Jenkins, “I have to wonder if they have really learned any lessons at all. First, their complaints have centered around a single manipulated currency at whose mercy they find themselves. They seem to intuitively know that a fiat currency system is flawed. It is flawed because men are easily corrupted.
“But what is their solution? More of the same. Another fiat currency. Actually, a currency made up of a basket of currencies. This should really strike us as hilariously funny, if it weren’t so sad. And by sad, I mean stupid. It’s like draining bad oil out of a motor and replacing it with equally bad oil. Or like removing a tire that has a nail in it, only to replace it with one that is dry-rotted.
“What’s more, both India and Russia still receive foreign aid from the United States. They’re rather like a rebellious teenager who takes potshots at their parents while holding out their hand for cash and car keys.
“Beyond that, consider that the BRIC nations hold over 30% of the U.S. Treasury market. That’s a lot of eggs in one basket. So when they start grumbling about policy, they can really strike a fire. On the other hand, upsetting the basket breaks a lot of their own eggs.
“BRIC nations are still reliant on the American economy, as well as highly connected to dollar-based difficulties. So as they chop away at the tree, they had better be careful, lest it fall on them.”
Ian Mathias
Ian Mathias is the managing editor of Agora Financial’s Income Franchise, where he writes and researches about retirement, dividend and fixed income investing. Much of his work is featured in The Daily Reckoning and Lifetime Income Report – Agora Financial’s flagship income investing advisory.
Previously, Ian managed The 5 Min. Forecast, a fun, fast-paced daily look into the future of global markets and macroeconomics. He’s also worked in public relations, where media outlets like Forbes, AP, Yahoo! and MSN Money have syndicated his writing. If he’s not at work, you’ll probably find Ian on a bicycle, racing up and down the “mountains” of Baltimore County. Ian has a BA from Loyola University in Maryland.
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wow, you weren’t kidding on the be careful what you wish for part
Ian, your article is very good, except for one part. The BRIC countries are better off with this change for the reserve currency away from the USA. Why? Because they know they are doomed with America solely, while with IMF special drawing rights they, especially China, will have a much much larger say in things, or control. Also, I predict the dollar currency part will be small, probably less than 25%. Lastly, and most importantly, it will have a gold portion, too – the wisest thing they can do as it is the only real money or currency. Everything else is just fake or fiat currency.
So, to me, they are smart to do this. Anything to get away from the dollar, which they can see is being ruined quickly by Obama drunken sailor spending.