The G20 moves the world a step closer to a global currency

Image by World Economic Forum via Flickr

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Last Updated: 3:45PM BST 07 Apr 2009

A single clause in Point 19 of the communiqué issued by the G20 leaders amounts to revolution in the global financial order.

"We have agreed to support a general SDR allocation which will inject $250bn (£170bn) into the world economy and increase global liquidity," it said. SDRs are Special Drawing Rights, a synthetic paper currency issued by the International Monetary Fund that has lain dormant for half a century.

In effect, the G20 leaders have activated the IMF's power to create money and begin global "quantitative easing". In doing so, they are putting a de facto world currency into play. It is outside the control of any sovereign body. Conspiracy theorists will love it.

It has been a good summit for the IMF. Its fighting fund for crises is to be tripled overnight to $750bn. This is real money.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director, said in February that the world was "already in Depression" and risked a slide into social disorder and military conflict unless political leaders resorted to massive stimulus.

The G20 moves the world a step closer to a global currency - Telegraph

Related articles by Zemanta

• Times change: IMF, once deemed irrelevant, is now vital (dailyfinance.com)
• IMF rapped on money supply plan (news.bbc.co.uk)