Enfraquecimento do dólar flexível em 2001-2007: comparação com 1974-1980, possibilidades de ajuste pela desvalorização, riscos de ruptura ou risco de um novo "choque de Volcker"

Abstract

This dissertation analyses the period of weakening of the U.S. dollar in the 2001-2007 period and the three possible scenarios: (i) the maintenance and adjustment of the freefloating currency system, through the prolonged effects of the devaluation of the dollar, (ii) the protracted decline of the dollar as world currency, with the transfer of all or part of its role to another currency, with the Euro as most likely candidate, (iii) U.S. reaction in the style of the Volcker s shock in 1979-1980. It discusses whether there are limits to the setting in which the dollar, in the role of main reserve currency, is issued in large quantities to cover the U.S. current account deficits and whether the world will keep financing these deficits and paying significant margins of contribution to the United States, the so-called "exorbitant privilege" of the country issuing the world currency. The dissertation studies the formation of the freefloating dollar standard after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971-73 and the stages of its development, highlighting the period from 2001, which was marked by a sharp decline in the value the dollar. We draw attention to the similarities with the period of weakening of 1974-1980, which led to strong reaction from the United States with the high increase of interest and the imposition of credit controls, a process known as "Volcker s shock"