Cette faim sacrée d'or : la France, le bimétallisme, et la stabilité du système monétaire international : 1848-1873
Institution:
Paris, EHESSDisciplines:
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Abstract EN:
This research is aimed at analyzing and characterizing the functioning of the international monetary system between 1848 and 1873. I argue that this regime may be aptly described as an "international bimetallism" - i. E. A regime where nations are either on a gold or on a silver, or on a dual (gold and silver) standard. By documenting the virtual fixity of the gold-silver exchange rate during that period, i try to solve two important (and so far unanswered) puzzles. First , i seek to explain the remarkable stability of the gold-silver exchange rate, despite momentous "shocks" associated with the california and australia gold discoveries of the late 1840's and 1850's. Second i offer an interpretation of the mechanisms through which the gold production was eventually distributed among the various nations, clarifying the factors that determined the share that each country would finally absord.
Abstract FR:
Le but de cette these est d'analyser et de caracteriser le fonctionnement du systeme monetaire international entre 1848 et 1873, que l'on propose de decrire comme un " regime bimetallique international". C'est a dire un regime ou les diverses nations ont adopte un etalon d'or, d'argent, ou un etalon double (or et argent) et ou le taux de change entre les deux metaux est (quasi) fixe. Deux questions principales, nous preoccupent. D' abord, on cherche a comprendre comment les massives decouvertes d'or en californie et en australie a partir de 1848 ont affecte la stabilite des changes et du rapport commercial entre l'or et l'argent. Ensuite on veut determiner quels ont ete les facteurs qui ont preside a l'allocation finale des nouvelles ressources d'or entre les diverses nations.