Premature Schadenfreude Directed at the US Dollar

Photo Credit: ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS © 2023 Farok J. Contractor, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers Business School RECENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A PROLIFERATION of wishful-thinking posts predicting the imminent decline of the US dollar as a universal currency, further stating that its fate is to be replaced by the Chinese yuan, the Indian rupee, or some other currency. Pundits … Continue reading Premature Schadenfreude Directed at the US Dollar

Trump Administration Labels China a “Currency Manipulator”: What’s behind the accusation, and who’s right?

© 2019 Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School At 5 o’clock in the morning on August 5, 2019, unable to sleep, Trump tweeted about China—not for the first time accusing it of being a “currency manipulator,”[1] and describing this as a “major violation.” (See Figure 1 below.) Treasury Secretary Mnuchin followed with an official announcement … Continue reading Trump Administration Labels China a “Currency Manipulator”: What’s behind the accusation, and who’s right?

Four Salient Facts about the Chinese Yuan

© 2017 Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School On February 23, 2017, just hours after his new Treasury secretary pledged a more methodical approach to analyzing Beijing's foreign exchange practices, President Donald Trump declared: "Well...I think they're grand champions at manipulation of currency. So I haven't held back.... We'll see what happens."  — Reuters Four Salient Facts: … Continue reading Four Salient Facts about the Chinese Yuan

Update: Is China a “currency manipulator”? Donald Trump says so

SEE UPDATED POST, AUGUST 11, 2019: Trump Administration Labels China a “Currency Manipulator”: What’s behind the accusation, and who’s right? © 2016 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School This article is a 2016 update of my original post of November 16, 2015. It has also been published on The Conversation as Does China manipulate its currency … Continue reading Update: Is China a “currency manipulator”? Donald Trump says so

Is China a “currency manipulator”? Donald Trump says so

© 2015 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University After 20 years, the Chinese government must be used to it—being bashed by US politicians and Congress as a “currency manipulator.” Indeed, the exchange value of the yuan (or renminbi [RMB]) is fixed each morning by its central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), with a … Continue reading Is China a “currency manipulator”? Donald Trump says so

Whither the Chinese Yuan? Is the RMB Still Undervalued?

© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University Introduction to my May 8, 2014 YaleGlobal Online article: “Renminbi Undervalued? Think Again” The exchange rate between the US dollar and the Chinese Renminbi Yuan (RMB) is of crucial importance to both the American and Chinese economies since the bilateral trade between the two nations (imports plus exports) is nearing … Continue reading Whither the Chinese Yuan? Is the RMB Still Undervalued?

The US – One of the World’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Locations?

© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University In 2012, I was one of the observers who indicated that American manufacturing productivity was, by far, the best in the world. (See my August 7, 2012 Yale Global Online article “7 Reasons to Expect US Manufacturing Resurgence,” which provided figures from the International Monetary Fund and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.) In … Continue reading The US – One of the World’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Locations?