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British monetary orthodoxy in the 1870s: A victory for the Currency Principle

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  • Sylvie Diatkine
  • Jerome de Boyer

Abstract

Approval of the quantity theory, of the Humean price-specie-flow mechanism (PSFM) and of lender of last resort analysis are characteristics of British monetary orthodoxy in the 1870s. But this does not mean that this orthodoxy achieved a synthesis between the Banking School and the Currency School. On the contrary, we show that it marks the victory of the Currency Principle that, in fact, did evolve after 1847, but did not rejoin Banking School ideas. The PSFM, which is essential to the Currency Principle, cannot be confused with the gold points mechanism described by Thornton and Tooke. The lender of last resort and money market theories developed by Bagehot are compatible with the dichotomy between currency and credit, a characteristic of the Currency Principle, and contrary to the thought of Thornton's and Tooke.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvie Diatkine & Jerome de Boyer, 2008. "British monetary orthodoxy in the 1870s: A victory for the Currency Principle," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 181-209.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:15:y:2008:i:2:p:181-209
    DOI: 10.1080/09672560802037557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tooke, Thomas, 1844. "An Inquiry into the Currency Principle," History of Economic Thought Books, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, number tooke1844.
    2. Thomas M. Humphrey, 1993. "Money, Banking and Inflation," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 236.
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    1. repec:dau:papers:123456789/6554 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Sabine Schneider, 2022. "The politics of last resort lending and the Overend & Gurney crisis of 1866," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 75(2), pages 579-600, May.
    3. Samuel Demeulemeester, 2021. "The 100% money proposal of the 1930s: an avatar of the Currency School’s reform ideas?," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(4), pages 577-598, July.

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