Currency Peg

A currency peg is defined as the policy whereby the government or the central bank maintains a fixed exchange rate to the currency belonging to another country, resulting in a stable exchange rate policy between the two. For example, the currency of China was pegged with US dollars until 2015.

• A currency peg is a policy implemented by a government or central bank where a fixed exchange rate is maintained between the domestic currency and another country's currency.
• The key components of a currency peg include the domestic currency, the foreign currency to which it is pegged, and the fixed exchange rate between the two.
• Currency pegs play a crucial role in facilitating foreign exchange trading by providing stability and predictability in exchange rates. However, periodic volatility may still occur.

#1 - Domestic Currency

It is defined as the legally acceptable unit or tender used as the monetary instrument of the exchange in one's own country or the domestic country. It is the primary currency that may be used as the instrument of exchange within the country's border.

#2 - Foreign Currency

It is a legal and acceptable tender having value outside the country's borders. The domestic country may keep it for monetary exchange and recordkeeping.

#3 - Fixed Exchange Rate

It is defined as the exchange rate fixed between two countries to supplement their trade. In such a system, the central bank aligns its domestic currency with its other currency. It helps the exchange rate maintain a good and narrow area.

It is computed using the relationship as described below: –

Here,

• Dom represents the domestic currency.
• Xi, Xm, represent
• s the generic notations.
• The time is represented as t.
• I represent the foreign currency.

Following are the various examples of the currency peg.

Example #1

Suppose a country pegs its currency with the value of gold. Therefore, every time the value of gold increased or decreased, the relative effect on the currency of the domestic country had pegged its currency to gold. The US had huge reserves of gold and therefore added to their advantage when the USA pegged US dollars with the gold.

It also helped them to establish strong international trade. The US developed a comprehensive system that curbed the volatility in the international trade relations wherein major countries pegged their domestic currencies with that of the USA.

Example #2

The currency of China was pegged with US dollars which is foreign currency.

• In 2015, China broke the peg and separated itself with US dollars.
• It later established its peg with the currency baskets of 13 countries.
• The basket of currencies allowed China to have competitive trade relations.
• The export of china became strong with countries with relatively weaker currency than that of the Chinese currency Yuan.
• However, certain types of business in the United States gained or thrived due to a weaker Chinese currency Yuan.
• However, in 2016, it re-established the peg with US dollars.

1. It helps in financial planning for the domestic governments.
2. Help protect the competitive level of the exported goods from the domestic country to foreign currency.
3. It further helps in the easy purchase of critical commodities such as food products and oils as the domestic country has pegged itself to the most popular foreign currency.
4. It helps in the stabilization of monetary policy.
5. Reduces the volatility present in the foreign financial markets as it helps the domestic business predict the costs and exact pricing of the commodities.
6. Supports the increase in living standards and the continued growth in the domestic economy.

1. There is an increased intervention of foreign affairs with domestic affairs.
2. The central bank has to constantly monitor the demand and supply of foreign currency concerning its domestic currency.
3. The currency pegs don’t allow adjustments to the deficits in the accounts automatically.
4. Promotes disequilibrium as there are no real-time adjustments in the capital accounts for domestic and foreign countries.
5. It can give rise to speculative attacks on the currency's value if they are not in line with the value of the fixed exchange rate.
6. The speculators push domestic currencies from their fundamental value and easily enforce their devaluation.
7. To sustain currency pegs, the domestic countries maintain huge foreign reserves, which further employ high capital usage, giving rise to inflation.

• The central bank maintains foreign reserves, which helps them easily buy or sell reserves at a fixed rate of exchange.
• If the domestic country runs out of the foreign reserves that it has to maintain, then the currency peg is no longer valid.
• This further leads to Currency devaluation, and the exchange rate is free to float.

• The currency pegs came into the limelight after the period of Bretton Woods.
• By pegging the domestic currency with foreign currency, domestic countries attempt to move at a similar speed compared to foreign countries.
• The central bank of the domestic country may maintain a peg in such a fashion that it may buy foreign currency at one rate and sell foreign currency at another currency.
• It helps the importers to do business effectively since the currency exchange is pegged at a fixed rate.
• The most popular foreign currency to which domestic countries peg the exchange rate is dollars.
• Gold is the most popular commodity on which domestic countries peg their fixed exchange rate.
• It tends to provide a necessary cushion for its domestic economic interests.

Currency pegs help in promoting stability between the trading entities. Its role is critical for comprehensive forex trading, which displays volatility at periodic intervals. In such a system, the domestic country pegs their currencies with gold or other known and most used foreign currencies such as dollars or euros.

This has been a guide to what currency peg is and its meaning. Here we discuss the components of currency peg and its formula and examples. You can learn more about financing from the following articles –

• Currency Market
• Currency Depreciation Definition
• Currency Devaluation Examples
• Exchange Rate Risk