Monetary Integration in East Asia: Why Does it Take so Long?

Authors

  • Mariusz K. Krawczyk Ryukoku University, Japan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/ijbf2009.6.2.3

Keywords:

Monetary union, East Asia, Sequencing monetary reforms, Monetary unifi cation

Abstract

The launch of the economic and monetary union in Europe and the 1997 financial crisis that underscored the disadvantages of currently employed exchange rate regimes raised questions about the feasibility of a similar monetary unification project for East Asia. Being one of the most dynamically growing regions in the world, East Asia has the potential for a successful implementation of a monetary union. The paper examines why, despite substantial political emphasis being placed on the issue of monetary integration, the progress to date has been slower than could be expected. The major finding is that, although East Asia may actually benefit from establishing its monetary union in the long run, a specific political culture that prevails in the region and misconceptions about the sequencing of the process prevent the East Asian monetary union from materialising. Possible short and mid-term policy solutions follow.

 

References

Asahi, S. (2005, November 5). Asian currency unit sets stage for integration.

Balassa, B. (1962). The theory of economic integration. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.

Berben, R., Jean, M.B., Ekniti, N., Kanit, S., Pisit, P., and Piyaporn S. (2002). Requirements for successful currency regimes: The Dutch and Thai http://ijbf.uum.edu.my experiences. Report on the study group on exchange rate regimes for Asia (Kobe Research Project).

Chan L., and James, H. (2005). The illusive quest for an Asian common currency: Economic mirage or realpolitik? CNAEC Research Series No. 05-05. Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.

Chino, T. (2004, June). Consider a single Asian currency. Asian Wall Street Journal.

Fukuda, S. (2006, July 6). On the determinants of exporters’ currency pricing: History vs. expectations. Paper presented at the 81st Annual Conference of the Western Economic Association International, San Diego, USA.

Hanke, S., and Kurt, S. (1993). Currency boards and currency convertibility. Cato Journal, 12(3).

Ito, T., and Yung, C. P. (2004). Exchange rate regimes in East Asia. In Monetary and financial integration in East Asia. New York, Palgrave: Asian Development Bank.

Kawai, M., and Taizo, M. (2005, February 18). Is East Asia an optimum currency area? Paper presented at the Rokko Forum on International Finance, Kobe University, Japan.

Kawai, M., and Shinji, T. (2002, May 29). Towards regional monetary cooperation in East Asia. Paper presented at the Hamburg Institute of International Economics Conference on East Asian Monetary and Financial Cooperation.

Kim, J.S. (2004, December 2-3). Is the pegged regime a feasible alternative in East Asia. Paper presented at the conference on Financial Interdependence and Exchange Rate Regimes at Japan Ministry of Finance Policy Research Institute.

Kwack, S. Y. (2004). An optimum currency area in East Asia: Feasibility, coordination and leadership. Journal of Asian Economics, 15(1), 153-169.

Montiel, P. J. (2004). An overview of monetary and financial integration in East Asia. In Monetary and financial integration in East Asia. New York, Palgrave: Asian Development Bank.

Murase, T. (2007). Currency and monetary cooperation in East Asia (東アジ アの通過・金融協力-Higashi Ajia no Tsuuka-Kinyuu Kyouryoku). Tokyo: Keiso Shobo (in Japanese).

Nakashima, T. (2006). The necessity of East Asian community (東アジア共同 体の「必要性」-Higashi Ajia Kyoudoutai no Hitsuyousei), ERINA Discussion Paper No. 0605 (in Japanese). Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia.

Ogawa, E. (2002). Economic interdependence and international coordination in East Asia. In Report on the study group on exchange rate regimes for Asia (KOBE RESEARCH PROJECT).

Ogawa, E., and Takatoshi, I. (2002). On the desirability of a regional basket currency arrangement. Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, 16(3), 317-334. http://ijbf.uum.edu.my

Ogawa, E., Takatoshi, I., and Yuri, N. S. (2004). Costs, benefits, and constraints of the currency basket regime for East Asia. In Monetary and financial integration in East Asia. New York, Palgrave: Asian Development Bank.

Ogawa, E., and Kentaro K. (2006, July 6). Adopting a common currency basket arrangement into the “ASEAN plus three”. Paper presented at the 81st Annual Conference of the Western Economic Association International, San Diego, USA.

Williamson, J. (2000). Exchange rate regimes for emerging markets: Reviving the intermediate option. Policy Analyses in International Economics, 60. Institute for International Economics. DC: Washington.

Wyplosz, C. (2002). Fiscal policy: Institutions vs. Rules. (CEPR Discussion Paper No. 3238).

Yano, J., and Tran, T. V. A. (2006). On Asian monetary union. Hiroshima University, Mimeo.

Zhang, Z., Kiyotaka, S., and Michael, Mc. (2004). Is a monetary union feasible for East Asia? Applied Economics, 36(10), 1031-1043. http://ijbf.uum.edu.my

Downloads

Published

20-08-2009

How to Cite

K. Krawczyk, M. (2009). Monetary Integration in East Asia: Why Does it Take so Long? International Journal of Banking and Finance, 6(2), 61-75. https://doi.org/10.32890/ijbf2009.6.2.3

Research impact

Harvested 2026-09-07
0 citations recorded so far

Counts differ between services because each indexes a different body of literature. None of them is the whole picture.

Identifiers DOI 10.32890/ijbf2009.6.2.3 OpenAlex W2993032281