DOLLARISATION

• Dollarization refers to the adoption of the United States dollar (USD) as the official currency or as a widely used medium of exchange in a country that typically has its own national currency. In dollarized economies, the local currency might still exist, but the US dollar is commonly used for transactions, savings, and as a unit of account
• Dollarization offers a potential remedy for hyperinflation by severing the connection between escalating prices and an expanding money supply.
• By substituting domestic currency with the US dollar, advocates argue that it becomes harder for political entities to manipulate money supply for their own agenda.
• This shift could temper the continual surge in prices as accessing currency becomes more challenging, curbing consumer demand.
• Additionally, dollarization can yield positive impacts on economic growth. In smaller economies, access to dollars primarily occurs through foreign trade or capital influxes, encouraging a focus on boosting exports and creating friendlier conditions for foreign investment.
• This stability in the dollar's value enables both local and foreign economic players to devise long-term strategies for economic activities, which would otherwise be impractical with a rapidly depreciating currency

• It can bring stability to an economy facing high inflation or currency volatility by introducing a more stable currency. This stability can attract foreign investment and potentially reduce borrowing costs.
• Adopting the US dollar means relinquishing control over monetary policy. The country loses the ability to adjust interest rates or influence the money supply, which can limit its flexibility in responding to economic challenges.
• The government loses the ability to earn seigniorage (profits from issuing currency) when using a foreign currency like the dollar. This could impact government revenue.
• Dollarization allows for better long-term economic planning due to the stability of the dollar. Businesses and individuals can make more reliable forecasts and investments
• The economy becomes highly dependent on the US economy and its monetary policy. Economic shocks or policy changes in the US can significantly affect the dollarized country
• Dollarization can lead to income distribution issues. Those with USD-denominated income or savings might benefit, while others relying on local currency might face challenges if the local currency depreciates against the dollar
• Dollarization can potentially simplify international trade and investment, as the dollar is widely accepted globally. However, it might also affect the competitiveness of exports due to changes in exchange rates
• Dollarization can create challenges for financial inclusion, as some segments of the population might find it harder to access or utilize a foreign currency
• There are some potential problems. The adoption of dollars as a currency implies that economies lose an important source of policy leverage, with monetary policy now unable to control money supply.
• On the foreign trade front, countries would no longer be able to take recourse to depreciation to boost exports, focusing only on export promotion to stave off downturns.
• Some proponents of dollarisation see this as a positive outcome, since it would ensure the government resorts to productivity-boosting methods to combat recessions, instead of changing exchange rates