Why Did the Gold Standard Collapse? Explain Your Response.

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1. Why did the gold standard collapse? Explain your response. The gold standard collapse for the reason it would not allow for a nation's economic expansion. When times of war or acts of the like required for a economy's government to spend above the limits of its gold supply in turn the government would print extra money into circulation to compensate the excessive expenditures. This would cause a problem when these times of crisis would end and the extra printed money caused rapid inflation with in that nation. That nation would then try to re-establish it's rate hold per ounce of gold, yet not being able to internationally maintain that rate which would cause failure in this system. This is just one good reason I see as the collapse of the gold standard. 2. Is there a case for returning to some type of gold standard? Explain your response. I would say not. The problem is presented when a nation has the desire and ambition to grow yet there is only a set amount of gold and silver to be removed from the earth to back monetary value. When you have a limited amount of backing it kind of limits your growth and expansion. I could foresee a problem with any system if the players are too inconsistant and change the environment of the game too often. I currently have faith in our floating exchange rate system because it acommidates human inconsistancy and allows for frequent change with the ability to stabilize. 3. What opportunities might IMF lending policies to Third World nations create for international businesses? What threats might they create? Helping to build up third world countries could potential increase international trade buy creating new markets and new marketable goods to the our world. Problems might lie in the increase of third world country currency that would increase purchasing prices for currently developed nations increasing the

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