Economist Dismisses Chinese Yuan’s Impact on U.S. Dollar Dominance, Envisioning a Potential Multi-Currency Global Landscape

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It’s widely recognized that the US dollar has been the world’s reserve currency for more than a century, but it’s encountering challenges to maintain its position. These challenges include the growing popularity of the Chinese yuan, the rising usage of cryptocurrencies, and the increasing economic power of other countries.

Although, the economist argues that the Chinese yuan is not a serious threat to the US dollar because it only accounts for a small percentage of global reserves. He also points out that many experts believe that the world is moving towards a “multi-currency” system in which no single currency will dominate.

However, there were many reasons why the yuan is not likely to replace the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. First of all, the Chinese government tightly controls the value of the yuan, which makes it less attractive to investors.

Second, China’s financial markets are not as open as those in the United States, which makes it difficult for businesses to use the yuan for international transactions. Third, the dollar has a long history of stability and trust, which makes it the preferred currency for many investors and businesses.

However, the economist does acknowledge that the world is moving towards a “multi-currency” system. This is because other countries, such as the euro and the yen, are becoming more important in the global economy. Moreover, the rise of cryptocurrencies and other digital currencies is challenging the traditional dominance of the dollar.

Examining Threats to the U.S. Dollar’s Dominance and the Role of the Chinese Yuan

Interestingly, Benn Steil, an economist at the Council on Foreign Relations, believes that the biggest threat to the U.S. dollar’s dominance comes from the U.S. government itself. He points to recent events, such as the standoff over the federal debt ceiling and the Fitch Ratings downgrade, as evidence of this.

He also believes that the Chinese yuan is not a serious threat to the dollar’s dominance as the yuan accounts for less than 3% of global reserves. Hence, this means that it is not widely used as a reserve currency by central banks and other institutions. Steil’s views are shared by many economists. They believe that the dollar is likely to remain the world’s reserve currency for the coming future.

The Debate Over the Chinese Yuan’s Credibility and its Role in Global Finance

Furthermore, Benn Steil believes that the Chinese yuan is not a credible store of value. He points to China’s deteriorating legal protections, stringent capital controls, and relatively underdeveloped bond markets as reasons for this. He further notes that foreign investors pulled a record $91 billion out of China’s bond market in 2022.

Steil adds that the dollar’s continued dominance should not be taken for granted. However, he believes that there is currently no viable single alternative to the dollar. He says that many commentators have pointed to the probable emergence of a “multi-currency” world in which the dollar plays a much-diminished role.

On the other side, some people believe that the Chinese yuan will rival the U.S. dollar. Chinese economist Chen Yulu recently stated that the yuan could become on par with the USD. Nobel laureate Paul Krugman also believes that the U.S. dollar’s dominance won’t last forever. However, he doubts that the Chinese yuan could replace the dollar. A market analyst recently said that the volatility of the Chinese yuan makes de-dollarization efforts more difficult.

 

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