Britain and the Sterling Area

Catherine R. Schenk was awarded her BA and MA at the University of Toronto, and her Ph.D. at the London School of Economics. After two years at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, she now works on international economic history at Royal Holloway College (University of London).

1 INTRODUCTION The debate on the sterling area; The evolution of the post-war sterling area; The sterling area and the international economy 2 THE STERLING BALANCES Identifying the sterling balances; The mechanics of the sterling balances system; The sterling balances and confidence; The sterling balances and development; The sterling balances and domestic monetary policy 3 INTERNATIONAL TRADE The pattern of sterling area trade; The system of controls; Quantitative restrictions 1949–50; The Korean War boom 1950–1; Return to restrictions, 1952; The sterling area and UK export competitiveness 4 INVESTMENT IN THE STERLING AREA; Capital flows and British policy; The volume of long-term capital flows; Investment and growth; Impact on the balance of payments; Capital flows as a cohesive factor 5 THE STERLING AREA AND STERLING POLICY The ROBOT Plan and flexible exchange rates; The collective approach to convertibility; The administrative approach to convertibility 6 CONCLUSIONS