Competing Bimetallic Ratios: Amsterdam, London, and Bullion Arbitrage in Mid-Eighteenth Century

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic History
Year: 2013
Volume: 73
Issue: 2
Pages: 445-476

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This article analyzes the stability of bimetallism for countries operating in integrated bullion markets that enact different legal ratios. I articulate a new theoretical framework to demonstrate that two countries can both be bimetallic only if they coordinate their legal ratios. The theoretical framework is applied to the mid-eighteenth century when London's legal ratio was 3.8 percent higher than that of Amsterdam. I find that Amsterdam was effectively on the bimetallic standard, whereas London was on a de facto gold standard.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:cup:jechis:v:73:y:2013:i:02:p:445-476_00
Journal Field
Economic History
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-26