Competing Bimetallic Ratios: Amsterdam, London and Bullion Arbitrage in the Mid-18th Century
39 Pages Posted: 1 Feb 2013
Date Written: January 2013
Abstract
This article analyzes the stability of bimetallism for countries operating in integrated bullion markets who 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-18th century when Londons legal ratio was 3.8% higher than that of Amsterdam. I find that Amsterdam was effectively on the bimetallic standard, whereas London was on a de facto gold standard.
Keywords: arbitrage, bimetallic stability, bullion market integration, melting-minting points, monetary policy, specie-point mechanism
JEL Classification: E42, F15, N13, N23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation