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The Scandinavian Currency Union 1875–1914

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Abstract

The Scandinavian Currency Union is sometimes considered the most successful of the monetary unions established in Europe during the latter half of the nineteenth century.2 Following Bartel (1974: 703): ‘It was an important precursor to the attempts at international monetary cooperation which were to come after the Second World War.’ This chapter offers a re-examination of the Union, its background and its working until its breakdown under the strains of the First World War. The findings of the present analysis are more ambiguous than the above statements when it comes to evaluating the Union. While clearly successful as a currency union, its performance as an economic union was less convincing.

The authors are indebted to the participants of the Arrabida Workshop on International Monetary Arrangements in Historical Perspective for valuable comments. Special thanks are due to Marc Flandreau, Michael Bordo, Alan Milward and Jaime Reis. For any remaining errors we accept sole responsibility.

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© 1995 Jaime Reis

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Henriksen, I., Kærgård, N. (1995). The Scandinavian Currency Union 1875–1914. In: Reis, J. (eds) International Monetary Systems in Historical Perspective. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24220-7_5

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