The Dollar’s Imperial Circle
![Decorative: Large dollar sign with circles around it superimposed over an image of a city and world map.](https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/LSE_2023_imperial-dollar_akinci_460.jpg?w=920)
The importance of the U.S. dollar in the context of the international monetary system has been examined and studied extensively. In this post, we argue that the dollar is not only the dominant global currency but also a key variable affecting global economic conditions. We describe the mechanism through which the dollar acts as a procyclical force, generating what we dub the “Dollar’s Imperial Circle,” where swings in the dollar govern global macro developments.