In an intriguing synthesis of current theories of international finance, trade,
and industrial organization, Paul Krugman presents a provocative analysis of the
extraordinary volatility of exchange rates in the 1980s.Krugman focuses on
imperfect integration of the world economy, showing how this has become both a
cause and effect of exchange rate instability. He outlines the costs and
benefits of recent flexible-exchange rate policies and offers fresh insight into
why the models that worked in the first half of the 1980s don't work in the
growing uncertainty of the latter half. Krugman's analysis is succinct and
accessible, with technical appendixes that offer powerful backing to his
ideas.Exchange Rate Instability