Economics
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Exchange Rates - Five Key Definitions
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Last updated 30 Mar 2019
Here are five definitions and brief explanations of terms linked to the topic of exchange rates.
Key terms
Appreciation
A rise in the external value of one currency against another or a basket of currencies. Relates to a floating exchange rate system.
Competitive devaluation
When a country tries to devalue its currency to increase its price competitiveness in domestic and overseas markets.
Currency union
A group of countries (or regions) using a common currency – for example 19 countries that have entered the single European currency (as of April 2019).
Internal devaluation
Where a country seeks to regain competitiveness through lowering wage costs and increasing productivity and not by reducing the external value of exchange rate.
PPP Exchange Rate
The rate at which the currency of one country is converted into that of another to purchase the same amount of goods and services in each country. Used in assessing relative living standards.
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