Although the globalization of markets and the rapid growth in worldwide information technologies supports harmonization and integration between countries, substantial differences still exist throughout the world. Global Divergence in Trade, Money and Policy explores the disparities between a range of countries, arguing that their differences are a major factor in international tensions, and will remain a substantial problem for many decades to come. The book analyses the implications of disparities in the areas of economic power, institutional structures, per capita income, international trade, exchange rate systems, financial markets, monetary policy issues, the development of monetary unions and welfare. Case studies encompassing Asia, India, Greece, Mexico, the US and EU accession countries illustrate how differently the globalization process is regarded and valued by countries depending on their own particular circumstances. Exploring the role of different countries in the processes of globalization and shedding light on the issues surrounding economic divergences, this book will strongly appeal to economists with a special interest in globalization, development and international trade.

Financial services with global reach are becoming ever more important in the conduct and organization of the trade and investment of nations, and currencies that lack international standing lose out in this business. The result of financial development has been destabilizing currency and portfolio substitution - in favour of international currencies and against local ones. This book analyses formal approaches to overcoming monetary divisions within countries and within integrating regions, focusing on the consequences of monetary union for trade among union members and their financial development and stability. The authors discuss hard pegs such as those attempted by the currency board of Argentina, outright dollarization, such as in Ecuador, and multilateral monetary union, as in Europe, the least reversible form of monetary union and the most powerful elixir of financial integration and trade. The political classes and central banks in most countries have been reluctant to admit the market- and technology-driven forces of currency consolidation, much less yield to them. International financial institutions too are still in the habit of proffering advice about national monetary and exchange-rate policies on the assumption that getting rid of both is not even an option. Emerging-market countries, in particular, have to choose between retaining what independent monetary means they still have - and can safely use in the presence of widespread liability dollarization and currency mismatches - and formally replacing the domestic with an international currency to reduce exposure to debilitating financial crises. In concrete investigations of this choice, this volume shows that monetary union deserves a much more sympathetic hearing.