In this volume an international team of monetary historians examine the historical experience of exchange rate behaviour under different monetary regimes. The main focus is on metallic standards and fixed exchange rates, such as the gold standard. With its combination of thematic overviews and case studies of key countries and periods, this book provides enhanced understanding of past monetary systems. The volume is divided into three parts. Part I evaluates the various monetary systems. The performance of metallic regimes is compared with the other monetary systems of human history, using...

This text combines historical investigation and analysis to present the Ricardian approach to the international monetary system and the Gold Standard. The authors assess these arguments in the light of modern experience.