All an exchange rate does is compare the worthiness of one country with other countries. So, supported by the brilliance of modern economists, politicians meddle with the exchange rate to "improve" their look.
It's rather like warming a room by holding a match under the thermostat.
Perhaps exchange rates should be allowed to float free.
Then politicians might become acquainted with real life.
Harry
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karen wrote:
Agree, Brad. It was 360 yen to the dollar in the late 60s and early 70s when I was there, but that is now almost ancient history.Today it is 124.80 yen. See the monthly, quarterly, 1 and 2-year charts @ http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm. Monthly and quarterly rising. Karen We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. A strong dollar and we can't sell anything; a weak dollar and we can't buy anything (it's a global economy, we know!). The dollar is 20% higher than it was 5 years ago? Well, I think it's about 120 yen to the dollar these days. It was 260 yen to the dollar when I was in Japan in the mid 80s.
****************************** Harry Pollard Henry George School of LA Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (818) 352-4141 Fax: (818) 353-2242 *******************************
--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.404 / Virus Database: 228 - Release Date: 10/15/2002
