International Monetary Fund

Extract

After consulting the International Monetary Fund, on unification of its exchange system, the government of Greece on April 9, 1953, eliminated all multiple currency practices and adjusted the official exchange rate from 15,000 drachmas per United States dollar to 30,000 drachmas per United States dollar. The Fund's announcement of this action by the Greek government added that it welcomed and concurred in these policies. Another proposal to adjust an official exchange rate was approved by the Fund on May 14; the government of Bolivia proposed to establish a new par value for the boliviano of 190 bolivianos per United States dollar. The previous par value was 60 bolivianos per United States dollar. At the same time a Bolivian proposal to simplify its exchange system was approved; effective May 14 the exchange system was to consist of an official and a free market. The official market would be for all trade transactions, government payments, registered capital, and certain specified invisibles. All present exchange taxes, multiple import and export rates, retention quotas, compensation and divisas propias arrangements were eliminated. The Fund welcomed these efforts toward monetary stabilization and emphasized “the importance of firm anti-inflationary measures as a basis for further progress towards the achievement of Bolivia's international equilibrium.”