Is de-dollarisation a possibility? Can alternatives esp Xi Jinping’s Yuan & a BRICS currency work? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This content dives into the misconceptions surrounding the decline of the dollar and the fantasy of a new global currency, debunking them with evidence and analysis.

Key Insights

• 🌍 The belief that the US dollar is declining is not entirely true, as it is not declining as rapidly or catastrophically as believed.
• 💰 The decline of the dollar is not necessarily a good thing for countries like India, as no virtuous new currency will replace it.
• 🇺🇸 The majority of global reserves are still held in American currency, and the US dollar remains the dominant currency in global trade.
• 🇨🇳 China wants its currency, the Yuan, to become a global currency, but it faces significant challenges, such as lifting capital controls and gaining trust in its currency.
• 🌐 The shift away from the US dollar over the past 20 years has primarily been towards other safe currencies, such as the Australian and Canadian dollars and the Swedish krona.
• 🛫 India is unlikely to join a new currency system led by China, as it is unwilling to be part of any grouping where China has a strong influence.
• 💸 The bulk of global reserves are held in US dollars, followed by the euro, with very few reserves held in the Chinese Yuan.
• 🌍 While there has been some decline in the amount of money held in US dollars, the shift has been mainly to other Western currencies, not the Chinese Yuan.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Is the decline of the dollar as catastrophic as some people believe?

No, while the dollar is declining, the decline is not as rapid or catastrophic as it is often portrayed. The belief that a decline in the dollar would benefit other countries is a misconception that lacks solid evidence.

Q: Can BRICS countries create a new currency to replace the dollar?

The idea of BRICS countries producing a new currency to replace the dollar is highly unlikely due to several reasons. The countries within BRICS have significant differences in their relationships and geopolitical interests. Additionally, their combined economic strength is not sufficient to support a new global currency.

Q: Are countries shifting away from the dollar to the Chinese yuan?

No, the shift away from the dollar is not primarily towards the Chinese yuan. Countries are instead opting for other safe currencies, such as the Australian and Canadian dollars. The yuan is not widely trusted due to China's capital controls and its worldview on political and economic issues.

Q: What are some challenges in adopting the Chinese yuan as a global currency?

Adoption of the Chinese yuan as a global currency faces several challenges. China's low ranking on the index of capital account openness and its closed-off nature make it difficult for countries to trust its currency. China would need to lift capital controls and make the yuan fully convertible, which goes against its current political and economic system.

Q: Are BRICS countries equally capable of creating a new currency?

No, the economic strength among the BRICS countries is highly imbalanced. China has an economy more than twice the size of the other four countries combined. This economic disparity, along with varying geopolitical interests, makes it unlikely for the countries to create a new currency on equal terms.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The dollar is declining, but not as rapidly as many believe, and the idea of its decline being beneficial for other countries is a fantasy.

• The notion of BRICS countries creating a new currency to replace the dollar is unlikely due to differences among the countries and their economic strength.

• China's currency, the yuan, is not widely trusted, and countries are shifting away from the dollar to other safe currencies like the Australian and Canadian dollars.