DEFINITION of 'Bretton Woods Agreement'
A landmark system for monetary and exchange rate management established in 1944. The Bretton Woods Agreement was developed at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, from July 1 to July 22, 1944.
Major outcomes of the Bretton Woods conference included the formation of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and, most importantly, the proposed introduction of an adjustable pegged foreign exchange rate system. Currencies were pegged to gold and the IMF was given the authority to intervene when an imbalance of payments arose.
INVESTOPEDIA EXPLAINS 'Bretton Woods Agreement'
One of the proposals of the Bretton Woods conference was that currencies should be convertible for trade and other current account transactions.
Following the end of World War II in 1945, Europe and the rest of the world embarked on a lengthy period of reconstruction and economic development to recover from the devastation inflicted by the war. Although gold initially served as the base reserve currency, the U.S dollar gained momentum as an international reserve currency that was linked to the price of gold.
-
Exchange Rate
The price of a nation’s currency in terms of another currency. ... -
Functional Finance
A heterodox macroeconomic theory developed by Abba Lerner during ... -
Smithsonian Agreement
An agreement reached by a group of 10 countries (G10) in 1971 ... -
Nixon Shock
A term used to describe the actions taken by former U.S. President ... -
International Monetary Fund - IMF
An international organization created for the purpose of: 1. ... -
World Trade Organization - WTO
An international organization dealing with the global rules of ...
-
EconomicsWhat do Keynes and Freidman have to do with fiscal and monetary policy?
Find out how John Maynard Keynes and Milton Friedman influenced how modern economists and analysts think about fiscal and monetary policy. -
Forex EducationCurrency Exchange: Floating Rate Vs. Fixed Rate
Baffled by exchange rates? Wonder why some currencies fluctuate while others are pegged? This article has the answers. -
Forex EducationDollarization Explained
Find out how fledgling economies can find some stability in their currency and attract foreign investment. -
Fundamental AnalysisAn Introduction To The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Chances are you've heard of the IMF. But what does it do, and why is it so controversial? -
InvestingWhat was the Gold Reserve Act?
The Gold Reserve Act of 1934 gave the government the power to peg the value of the dollar to gold and adjust it as it pleased. The dollar was devalued the following day, from $20.67 to buy a ... -
EconomicsThe Stock Market: A Look Back
The past century was marked by furious economic change. What can it tell us about what lies ahead? -
Forex EducationForex Tutorial: The Forex Market
In this online tutorial, beginners and experts alike can learn the ins and outs of the retail forex market. -
Forex StrategiesHow do I create a Forex Range-Bound trading strategy?
Discover how to create a range-bound trading strategy with forex currency pairs, and learn which kinds of pairs are most conducive to ranges. -
ForexSteps To Open An Offshore Forex Account
Here is a simple breakdown of how to open an offshore forex account for US-based users, including legal requirements. -
Forex StrategiesWhat are common strategies traders implement when identifying a Bearish Engulfing Pattern?
Learn how to spot a bearish engulfing pattern, and learn some of the trading strategies you can implement to take advantage of bear momentum.
Free Annual Reports