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Journal of Political Economy Vol. 81 No. 5 1973

Exchange-Rate Movements and Economic Development in the Late Nineteenth Century

Jeffrey B. Nugent

Abstract

This paper empirically tests the hypothesis that devaluation stimulates export and income growth. The historical period 1873-94 is utilized because it is relatively free of the simultaneous-equation bias which has plagued previous studies. During this period the price of silver relative to gold fell by about 50 percent, thereby implying a substantial devaluation by silver standard countries relative to gold standard countries. Support for the hypothesis is provided by evidence that exports and income grew significantly more rapidly in the former countries than in the latter ones.

DOI
10.1086/260109
Volume
81
Issue
5
Pages
1110-1135
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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