Term Papers on Financial Transaction Tax

Term Paper Title	Financial Transaction Tax
# of Words	3401
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	13.6

Financial Transaction Tax

     The soaring volume of international finance and increased interdependence in
recent decades has increased concerns about  volatility and  threats of a financial crisis.
This has led many to investigate and analyze the origins, transmission, effects and policies
aimed to impede financial instability.  This paper argues that financial liberalization and
speculation are the most reflective explanations for instability in financial markets and that
financial instability is likely to be transmitted globally with far reaching implications on real
sector performance.  I conclude the paper with the argument that a global transaction tax
would be the most effective policy to curb financial instability and that other proposed
policies, such as target zones and the creation of a supranational institution, are either
unfeasible or unattainable.
INSTABILITY IN FINANCIAL MARKETS
      In this section I examine four interpretations of how financial instability arises.
The first interpretation deals with speculation and the subsequent “bandwagoning” in
financial markets.  The second is a political interpretation dealing with the declining status
of a hegemonic anchor of the financial system.   The question of whether regulation causes
or mitigates financial instability is raised by the third interpretation; while the fourth view
deals with the “trigger point” phenomena.
     To fully comprehend these interpretations we must first understand and
differentiate between a “currency” and “contagion” crisis.  A currency crisis refers to a
situation is which a loss of confidence in a country’s currency provokes capital flight.
Conversely,  a contagion crisis refers to a loss of confidence in the assets denominated in a
particular currency and the subsequent global transmission of this shock.
     One of the more paramount readings of financial instability pertains to speculation.
Speculation is exhibited in  a situation where a government monetary or fiscal policy (or
action) leads investors to believe that the currency of that particular nation will either
appreciate or depreciate in terms relative to those of other countries. Closely associated
with these speculative attacks is what is coined  the “bandwagon” effect.   Say for
example, that a country’s central bank decides to undertake an expansionary monetary
policy.   A neoclassical interpretation tells us that this will lower the domestic interest
rates, thus lowering the rate of return in the foreign exchange market and bringing about a
currency depreciation.  As investors foresee this happening they will likely pull out before
the perceived depreciation.  “Efforts to get out would accelerate the loss of reserves,
provoking an earlier collapse, speculators would therefore try to get out still earlier, and
so on” (Krugman, 1991:93).  This “herding” or “bandwagon” effect naturally cause wild
swings in exchange rates and volatility in markets.
     Another argument for the evolution of financial market instability is closely related
to  hegemonic stability theory.  This political explanation predicts a circumstance (i.e. a
decline of a hegemon’s status) in which a loss of confidence in a particular countries
currency  may lead to capital flight away from that currency.  This flight in turn not only
depreciates the currency of the former hegemon but more importantly undermines its role
as the international financial anchor and is said to ultimately lead to instability.
     The trigger point phenomena may also be used as an instrument to explain financial
instability.  Similar to the speculative cycles described above, this refers to a situation
where a group of investors commits to buy or sell a currency when that currency reaches a
certain price level.  If that particular currency were to rise or fall to that specified level,
whether by real or speculative reasons, the precommited investors buy or sell that
currency or assets.  This results in a cascade effect that, like speculative cycles, increases
or decreases the value of...

This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Digital Term Papers. Please register below now!

Digital Term Papers has over 63,000 essays, term papers, and book notes online. Many paper sites will charge you hundreds of dollars for a single paper. Digital Term Papers only charges $14.95 for a one month membership with instant account activation!

Don't waste anymore time! Join NOW!!!

1 Month (automatic renewal) ($14.95)

3 Months (automatic renewal) ($29.95)

6 Months (one-time billing) ($39.95)

Pay by: