Answer to Question 3:

Country A and Country B are two equal-sized countries whose currencies are pegged to gold, the world stock of which is constant. A gremlin, in the middle of the night, snatches half the gold stock in Country A and deposits it in Country B. This will cause the price level to fall in A and rise in B.

True or False?


The statement is false. Both countries' residents still want to hold the same amount of gold the next day. Thus, A-residents will sell non-monetary assets to B-residents so everyone can regain portfolio equilibrium. Gold will move back from B to A in return for ownership claims for capital. B-residents are now richer and A-residents poorer, so Country A's exports to Country B will increase and Country B's exports to Country A to will fall. At the same time, Country A's debt service balance will be smaller because A-residents now hold less of the world stock of non-monetary assets. The real exchange rate---that is, the price level in A relative to the price level in B---may be affected in either direction as world goods market equilibrium is re-established, depending on the structures of the two economies.

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