In: Economics
2.23
[Related to the Making the
Connection on page 1008] A
report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) notes that: “Iceland appears to have the
smallest independent, floating currency in the world. Other
countries the size of Iceland either do not have their own currency
(Estonia, Luxembourg, Malta) or peg their currency to that of
another country (Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Brunei, Latvia,
Lithuania, Maldives, Netherlands Antilles).”
a.Why might small countries decide to not allow
their currencies to float?
b.The report also noted that: “Joining the euro
area would significantly lower the volatility of traded good prices
and lower overall inflation volatility as nearly half of Iceland’s
external trade is with countries in the euro area or pegged to it.”
Why would joining the euro area have these effects? Are there any
reasons why Iceland might not want to join the euro area?
Source: OECD, Economic Surveys: Iceland
2011, June 2011, p. 18.