Development economics

Table of Contents

1. Topic pack - Development economics - introduction
2. 4.1 Economic development (notes)
3. 4.1 Economic development (questions)
4. 4.2 Measuring Economic Development (notes)
5. 4.2 Measuring development (questions)
6. 4.3 The role of domestic factors in economic development (notes)
7. 4.3 The role of domestic factors in economic development (questions)
8. 4.4 The role of international trade (notes)
9. 4.4 The role of international trade (questions)
10. 4.5 The role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (notes)
11. 4.5 The role of foreign direct investment (questions)
12. 4.6 The role of foreign aid and multilaterial development assistance (notes)
    1. Role of aid and MDA - introduction
    2. Foreign aid
    3. Aid - looking at the data
    4. Overseas development assistance
    5. Arguments for aid
    6. Arguments against aid
    7. Where do you stand on aid?
    8. Official development assistance - case studies
    9. Non-governmental organizations
    10. Multilateral development assistance
    11. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    12. The World Bank
    13. A mighty wind of change (video)
    14. Structural Adjustment Programmes
    15. Non-convertible currencies versus convertible currencies
    16. Problems of SAPs (video)
13. 4.6 The role of foreign aid and multilateral development assistance (questions)
14. 4.7 The role of international debt (notes)
15. 4.7 The role of international debt (questions)
16. 4.8 The balance between markets and intervention (notes)
17. 4.8 The balance between markets and intervention (questions)
18. Print View

Non-convertible currencies versus convertible currencies

Non-convertible currency mainly applies to developing countries, whose exchange rates are fixed (usually against the dollar), rather than floating, and whose currencies are therefore not freely convertible through the financial markets.

As the fixed rate is usually one that would be greater than the free market equilibrium rate, the exchange rates have tended to be overvalued. This may act as a barrier to development as it makes exports more expensive, causing yet another problem for exporters of primary commodities, while at the same time making imports cheaper.

Usually a pre-condition of the IMF when it gives loans to heavily indebted developing countries is that they devalue their currencies and allow them to float.

You might want to review Section 3.2 to consider the costs and benefits of fixed and floating exchange rate regimes and the impact these have on a country's balance of payments situation.

There is little doubt that such projects will make any economy 'leaner and fitter', but in the short to medium term, the cost in human terms can be considerable. In fact, the 'medicine' has often almost killed the 'patient'! However, it's difficult to gain loans from both the IBRD and IMF without agreeing to the drastic measures outlined above.

There is considerable debate around the policies pursued in recent years by the IMF and the World Bank, particularly in relation to their SAPs for developing countries.