How Can Persistently Weak Currencies Be Stabilized?

POINT:The currencies of some Latin American countries depreciate against the U.S. dollar on a consistent basis.The governments of these countries need to attract more capital flows by raising interest rates and making their currencies more attractive. They also need to insure bank deposits so that foreign investors who invest in large bank deposits do not need to worry about default risk. In addition, they could impose capital restrictions on local investors to prevent capital outflows.

COUNTER-POINT: Some Latin American countries have had high inflation, which encourages local firms and consumers to purchase products from the U.S. instead. Thus, these countries could relieve the downward pressure on their local currencies by reducing inflation. To reduce inflation, a country may have to reduce economic growth temporarily. These countries should not raise their interest rates in order to attract foreign investment, because they will still not attract funds if investors fear that there will be large capital outflows upon the first threat of continued depreciation.

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