Barry Eichengreen is Professor of Political
Science and Economics at the University of California, Berkeley.
His previous books include The European Economy Since 1945, Global
Imbalances and the Lessons of Bretton Woods, Capital Flows and
Crises, and Financial Crises and What to Do About Them. He has
written for the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign
Affairs, and other publications.
"A fascinating and readable account of the dollar's rise and
potential fall"--The Economist
"A rare combination of macroeconomic mastery, historical erudition,
good political instincts and the sort of stubborn common sense that
is constantly placing familiar problems in a new light."--Financial
Times
"This short, accessible book about the U.S. dollar by Barry
Eichengreen may be one of the most important published this
year.--Barron's
"[A] brisk primer on the dollar's role in the international
monetary system."--Bloomberg News
"Exorbitant Privilege is a book for anyone who has been perplexed
why, despite the frequent predictions of the dollar's demise over
the last fifty years, it has managed to maintain its position as
the world's pre-eminent reserve currency. The book includes both a
lively historical account of the dollar's role in the international
monetary system and an incisive and balanced discussion of future
challenges."--Liaquat Ahamed, author of Lords of Finance
"Short and eminently readable.... In just 177 pages of text,
[Eichengreen] provides a wealth of material for both the lay reader
and the scholar... You can't do better than Eichengreen for a solid
read on the dollar's wild ride."--The American Prospect
"Compact and readable...Eichengreen adds much needed nuance and
subtlety to the U.S. dollar debate....is [also] a pithy and amusing
history of the international monetary system....for those
fascinated by historical figures and events, behind-the-scenes
machinations, and the logistical elements that make a complex
currency and trade system work, the telling is very well
done."--Business Insider
"Barry Eichengreen's book couldn't be more timely... Elegant and
pithy."--Finance & Development, IMF.org
"The book, written for the general public, is useful and pleasant
to read also by the so-called professionals. Those used to
Eichengreens clear and fluent prose will find here a particularly
light touch obtained by dropping here and there a good dose of
anecdotal hints to lessen the weight of serious history and
rigorous economics...provides a masterful users manual for the
crisis that began in 2007."--EH.net
"The historical narrative in this book is fascinating and I highly
recommend it to both specialists and nonexpert advanced
readers."--Journal of Economic History
"This slender and pleasant book is a story of the dollar in the
world financial system, and an attempt at speculating on the future
of the U.S. currency.... [It] is good reading, contains well
organized facts and discussions, and raises important and difficult
questions."--Journal of Economic Literature
"[A] detailed and fast-moving analysis of the rise of the greenback
as an international currency." --EnlightenmentEconomics.com
"This is a brisk and invigorating account of a century of
international monetary developments by one of America's foremost
economic historians.... As would be expected, Exorbitant Privilege
is extremely well informed, cogently argued, and broadly
persuasive. Events and policies, such as the Suez war, the EMS
breakdown or the current financial crisis--together with sharp
criticism of the excessive deregulation favoured by both Alan
Greenspan and Larry Summers--are splendidly documented. Conflicting
views of what might happen in the future are clearly put forward
and analysed. Unexpectedly, perhaps, the book also displays fairly
frequent touches of humour. In other words, it is both erudite and
readable."--New Left Review
"Both eloquent and elegant...The book is admirably written and its
final message is very clear."--The Economic History Review
"A concentrated dose of common sense... If you're going to read
only one book about the economy this election season, make it Barry
Eichengreen's Exorbitant Privilege."--The Maui News
"When everyone from Brazil's leader to Sarah Palin questions the
dollar's status as a reserve currency, it is time for an expert to
sort out the truth from the hyperbole. Barry Eichengreen performs
this service with unwavering clarity."--Sebastian Mallaby, Council
on Foreign Relations
"Professor Eichengreen has written a truly superb book on the role
and global standing of the dollar--past, present and future. Those
exposed to the evolution of the globally economy, and that's
virtually all of us, will find his book extremely thoughtful and a
great read."--Mohamed El-Erian, CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO
"Eichengreen is the master of international money in history and
its troubles. Exorbitant Privilege is a fine account of whence it
came and a judicious survey of where it might go."--James K.
Galbraith, author of The Predator State: How Conservatives
Abandoned the Free Market and Why Liberals Should Too
"Barry Eichengreen again demonstrates his ability to integrate
economic history and theory with political analysis in order to
illuminate the critical issues of international finance. The timely
and accessible book is must reading for all concerned with the
prospective balance of international power--financial, economic and
political--in a multi-polar world."--William H. Janeway, Warburg
Pincus
"[S]urprisingly compact and readable book, Eichengreen adds much
needed nuance and subtlety to the U.S. dollar debate . . . a pithy
and amusing history of the international monetary system . . .
those fascinated by historical figures and events,
behind-the-scenes machinations, and the logistical elements that
make a complex currency and trade system work, the telling is very
well done." --BusinessInsider.com
"[A] brief and readable account of how the international monetary
system got where it is today and of past efforts, both successful
and (mainly) unsuccessful, to reform it." --Foreign Affairs
"[A] timely book on monetary economics and currencies that is clear
and easy to read, with elements of drama and excitement." --The
Finance Professionals' Post, a publication of the New York Society
of Security Analysts
"If you're going to read only one book about the economy this
election season, make it Barry Eichengreen's Exorbitant Privilege."
--Maui News
"This is a brisk and invigorating account of a century of
international monetary developments by one of America's foremost
economic historians. As would be expected, Exorbitant Privilege is
extremely well informed, cogently argued, and broadly persuasive.
Events and policies, such as the Suez war, the EMS breakdown or the
current financial crisis--together with sharp criticism of the
excessive deregulation favoured by both Alan Greenspan and Larry
Summers--are splendidly documented. Conflicting views of what might
happen in the future are clearly put forward and analysed.
Unexpectedly, perhaps, the book also displays fairly frequent
touches of humour. In other words, it is both erudite and
readable." Andrea Boltho, he New Left Review
Ask a Question About this Product More... |