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International Roles of Currencies and
Financial Market Drivers
Panel remarks by Linda Goldberg
2016 PBOC-FRBNY Joint Symposium, Hangzhou China March 1 2016
Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System.

Overview of remarks
Key roles of international currencies
Traditional determinants of international currency status
Additional considerations:
 Focus on what conditions lead currencies/ assets to provide
liquidity exactly when it is needed.

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Key roles of the currencies
1) Anchor currency for exchange rate systems worldwide
2) International reserve currency
3) Currency for denominating international financial transactions
(extra role for as benchmark in setting rates/terms)
4) Currency for denominating and settling international trade
5) International cash holdings

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Traditional determinants
Historically, discussions of key international currencies within the
international monetary system have focused on
 country size,
 economic stability,
 openness to trade and capital flows internationally,
 the strength of country institutions.
 Inertia also plays a role.

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Post-crisis lessons for international currencies
What additional considerations support currencies/assets being able
to provide liquidity exactly when needed?
 sovereign bond market liquidity,
 foreign exchange market function,
 financial stability reforms,
 fiscal space.

“New thinking on reserve currency status: Why is financial stability essential
for key currencies in the international monetary system?”
Linda Goldberg, Signe Krogstrup, John Lipsky, Hélène Rey, VOX column
July 2014 http://www.voxeu.org/article/new-thinking-reserve-currency-status
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International reserve status and safe assets
Delinking sovereign and banking crises through financial
stability reforms: the logic
 For a currency to have international reserve status, related assets
must be useable with minimal transaction price impact and
maintained value in times of stress.
 If the risk of banking stress or failures is substantial, and the
potential fiscal consequences strong, the safety of sovereign
assets is compromised exactly at times of financial stress, through
contingent fiscal liabilities related to systemic banking crises.
 Monies with reserve currency status need low probabilities of twin
sovereign and financial crises.
 Financial stability reforms, alongside fiscal prudence, can help
protect the safety and liquidity of sovereign assets.
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Thank you!

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