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Bimetallism and its discontents: cooperation and coordination failure in the empire’s monetary politics, 1549-59

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  • Volckart, Oliver

Abstract

The article uses new sources to review the hypotheses that Charles V’s currency bill of 1551 failed because of the electoral-Saxon resistance against the undervaluation of the taler that it stipulated, or because the emperor was too weak to overcome the estates’ resistance to collective action in monetary policies. The study shows that these issues were overshadowed by the dispute about whether a bimetallic currency should be established. Charles V’s currency bill failed because the Diet of Augsburg (1550-51) asked the emperor to publish it before all open issues had been resolved. This request placed the emperor in a dilemma where he had to make a decision but could not do so without antagonising important parties. It was the result of a coordination failure at the level of the Empire; this, in turn, was a consequence of a lack of continuity among the personnel involved in shaping monetary policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Volckart, Oliver, 2017. "Bimetallism and its discontents: cooperation and coordination failure in the empire’s monetary politics, 1549-59," Economic History Working Papers 86534, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:wpaper:86534
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    Keywords

    monetary policies; constitutional history; public debts; bimetallism; 16th century;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N23 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N43 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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