These essays review recent advances in exchange rate analysis and new empirical analysis of the behavior of exchange rates and their effects on international trade and the U.S. economy. The first section deals with the determination of exchange rates and their alleged volatility and disequilibrium levels. The second section concerns the effects of flexible exchange rates on international trade, and the third treats the macroeconomic linkages between economies and international influences on the U.S. economy. ISBN 0-88410-948-8 : $39.95.

The essays in this volume are timelyand provocative. They address the key issues of the changing world economy and consider the implications ofthe erosion ofthe rule oflaw that has occurred both domestically and internationally to an increasing degree over the past halfcentury. The debates over the role of the dollar in the international econ omy, the future shape ofthe international monetary system and the exchange rate regime, the significance ofthe U.S. twin deficits, and the rise of nontariffbarriers to world trade deserve serious attention. Atthe bottom ofthese debates lie differing conceptions ofeconomic policy and the role of government in a free society. Adam Smith's vision ofa limited democracy operating to protect persons and prop erty has been increasinglyreplaced by a vision ofapaternalistic state that is designed to protect special interests at the expense of the larger society. Many of the contributors to this volume point to the lack oflong-run rules designed to promote sound money, fiscal integ rity, and open markets asthe fundamental flawofmodern democratic governments. Although the authors disagree on the specific rules to adopt, the consensus is that a constitutional perspective is needed to ensure astable worldorder. Moreover, since such aperspective must bedeveloped at home before it can spread among nations, the search for optimal international policy coordination is generally seen as misguided. Many ofthe essays in this volume were initially presented at the Cato Institute's Sixth Annual Monetary Conference held in Wash ington, D.C., February 25-26, 1988.

Most trade is invoiced in very few currencies. Despite this, the Mundell-Fleming benchmark and its variants focus on pricing in the producer’s currency or in local currency. We model instead a ‘dominant currency paradigm’ for small open economies characterized by three features: pricing in a dominant currency; pricing complementarities, and imported input use in production. Under this paradigm: (a) the terms-of-trade is stable; (b) dominant currency exchange rate pass-through into export and import prices is high regardless of destination or origin of goods; (c) exchange rate pass-through of non-dominant currencies is small; (d) expenditure switching occurs mostly via imports, driven by the dollar exchange rate while exports respond weakly, if at all; (e) strengthening of the dominant currency relative to non-dominant ones can negatively impact global trade; (f) optimal monetary policy targets deviations from the law of one price arising from dominant currency fluctuations, in addition to the inflation and output gap. Using data from Colombia we document strong support for the dominant currency paradigm.

"Dr. Preeg answers these questions with a clear presentation of the relationship between U.S. trade and financial interests. He argues that the chronic trade deficit and the related buildup of foreign debt can have substantial adverse consequences for the United States, and that early actions are needed to increase the U.S. savings rate and to curtail mercantilist exchange rate polices by some trading partners. Many observers believe we do not need to worry about the trade deficit in this era of high growth and full employment. The Trade Deficit, the Dollar, and the U.S. National Interest is essential reading for anyone interested in a more concerned assessment of the prospects for America's economic future and geopolitical position."--BOOK JACKET.