The Bretton Woods System of Fixed Exchange Rates - Theoretical Background and its Development

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Economics - Monetary theory and policy, grade: 1, Pforzheim University, course: International Economics, language: English, abstract: This work is about the international monetary system, which is a called the Bretton Woods System, starting primarily from the end of the Second World War till the the 1970s. First of all the background of the years before the formation of the Bretton Woods System will be disclosed. This is important to evaluate the importance of a reformation of the monetary system. In the chapter 'History' you will find further information, first about the Classical Gold Standard before 1914, second about the Gold-Exchange-Standard after the First World War and finally, about the currency confusion in the period from 1931 till the Second World War. In the third chapter of this assignement the Bretton Woods System will be revealed in detail. It starts with the background of the system, the theoretical details like the two proposals for the formation of the system, followed by some important aspects, as well as the main principles. Further points in this chapter are the implementation and the development throughout the years. Last but not least this is followed by a conclusion.