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Why do foreign capital inflows cause currency appreciation?

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LeeO posted on Sat, Nov 20 2010 7:44 PM

When I read The Economist, sentences like this pop up all the time: "Other emerging economies cry that they are innocent victims, as their currencies are forced up by foreign capital flooding into their markets and away from low yields elsewhere."

So, for example, when United States businesses buy capital goods in Brazil, this causes Brazil's currency to appreciate? Why?

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Verified by LeeO

So, for example, when United States businesses buy capital goods in Brazil, this causes Brazil's currency to appreciate? Why?

I am thinking here, and I don't have an off the cuff catallactic reason. I would say it is possible that the fact that people buy up Brazillian currency in U.S. dollars and then spend Brazillian currency to buy Brazillian capital goods would improve the standing of the money, and also improve the amount of U.S. dollar reserves in Brazil?

...
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Verified by LeeO

Because in order for the U.S firms to buy Brazilian capital goods, they need Brazilian currency. And the U.S increasing their demand for Brazilian currency will cause the Brazilian currency to appreciate.

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Answered (Verified) Esuric replied on Sat, Nov 20 2010 9:45 PM
Verified by LeeO

So, for example, when United States businesses buy capital goods in Brazil, this causes Brazil's currency to appreciate? Why?

A higher demand for the Real relative to the USD.

"If we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion."

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Verified by LeeO

So, for example, when United States businesses buy capital goods in Brazil, this causes Brazil's currency to appreciate? Why?

I am thinking here, and I don't have an off the cuff catallactic reason. I would say it is possible that the fact that people buy up Brazillian currency in U.S. dollars and then spend Brazillian currency to buy Brazillian capital goods would improve the standing of the money, and also improve the amount of U.S. dollar reserves in Brazil?

...
  • | Post Points: 25
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Verified by LeeO

Because in order for the U.S firms to buy Brazilian capital goods, they need Brazilian currency. And the U.S increasing their demand for Brazilian currency will cause the Brazilian currency to appreciate.

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Answered (Verified) Esuric replied on Sat, Nov 20 2010 9:45 PM
Verified by LeeO

So, for example, when United States businesses buy capital goods in Brazil, this causes Brazil's currency to appreciate? Why?

A higher demand for the Real relative to the USD.

"If we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion."

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LeeO replied on Sat, Nov 20 2010 9:51 PM

Thanks for the answers.

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Esuric replied on Sat, Nov 20 2010 10:34 PM

This is why our current international monetary system is entirely untenable; there are no self-correcting mechanisms preventing continuous inflation. In fact, this monetary regime is characterized by perpetual, run away inflation. Simply put, as nation "A" inflates (arbitrarily reducing its interest rate), capital flows away from that nation towards other nations, perpetuating the currency devaluation. The only way that this process can come to an end is if that nation (the inflating nation) pursues a forced deflationary policy, which is politically impossible.

"If we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion."

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