Advantages of a fixed rate of exchange?

Answer 1

A fixed exchange rate system is one where the value of the exchange rate is fixed to another currency. This means that the government have to intervene in the foreign exchange market to maintain the fixed rate. The equilibrium exchange rate may be either above or below the fixed rate. In Figure 1 below, the equilibrium is above the fixed rate. There is a shortage of the national currency at the fixed rate. This would normally force the equilibrium exchange rate upwards, but the rate is fixed and so cannot be allowed to move. To keep the exchange rate at the fixed rate the government will need to intervene. They will need to sell their own currency from their foreign exchange reserves and buy overseas currencies instead. This has the effect of shifting the supply curve to S2 and as a result, their foreign currency holdings will rise.