Suppressing Asset Price Inflation: The Confederate Experience, 1861–1865 |
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| Authors: | Richard C. K. Burdekin Marc D. Weidenmier |
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| Affiliation: | Jonathon B. Lovelace Professor of Economics, Claremont McKenna College, 500 E. Ninth Street, Claremont, CA 91711. Phone 1–909–607–2884, Fax 1–909–621–8249, E-mail;Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Claremont McKenna College, 500 E. Ninth Street, Claremont, CA 91711, and NBER Faculty Research Fellow. Phone 1–909–607–8497, Fax 1–909–621–8249, E-mail |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Confederate asset price stabilization policies appear to have increased the velocity of circulation and counterproductively channeled inflationary pressures into other areas of the economy. Three successive monetary reforms encouraged holders of Treasury notes to exchange these notes for bonds by imposing deadlines on their convertibility. We show that Confederate funding acts aimed at precipitating the conversion of currency into bonds did temporarily suppress currency depreciation. These acts also triggered upsurges in commodity prices, however, because note holders rushed to spend the currency before their exchange rights were reduced. |
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