For like, forever, dollars have been the world’s go-to financial language. Central banks all over the place stash their cash in dollars. Countries, businesses, and folks use it for trading; like, around 90% of all foreign exchange deals involve the almighty dollar. It’s basically the world’s money, the world’s “reserve currency.” But what if that ain’t the case anymore? What if peeps stop thinking the dollar is all that safe? Today, we’re diving into what exactly a “reserve currency” is, why it’s been the dollar for so long, and what could possibly take its place if it falls out of favor.
This whole shebang of Planet Money was put together by Emma Peaslee, with a little assist from James Sneed. Marianne McCune worked her magic as the editor, checking facts with the help of Sierra Juarez. Shoutout to Kwesi Lee for engineering the episode. And of course, Alex Goldmark holds it down as our executive producer. If you’re hungry for more Planet Money, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or sign up for our weekly Newsletter. You can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app, or wherever you snag your podcasts. And hey, if you wanna show some love and get access to our bonus episodes, subscribe to Planet Money+ on Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
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Is the dollar’s reign coming to an end? Not really sure why this matters, but let’s chat about it, shall we?
For as long as we can remember, dollars have been the world’s favorite financial lingo. From big-shot central banks to regular Joes, everyone’s got a soft spot for the greenback. It’s like the ultimate go-to currency for trading; I mean, who doesn’t love a good ol’ dollar deal, am I right? But hey, what if the dollar ain’t all that anymore? What if the world starts giving it the cold shoulder? Today, we’re digging into what exactly makes a currency a “reserve currency,” why the dollar has been holding onto that title for so darn long, and what could swoop in to steal its thunder if it falls out of favor.
This whole Planet Money shindig was cooked up by Emma Peaslee, with a little help from James Sneed. Marianne McCune worked her editing magic, fact-checking with the assist from Sierra Juarez. Props to Kwesi Lee for making sure everything sounded just right. And big ups to Alex Goldmark for keeping the ship afloat as our executive producer. If you’re itching for more Planet Money goodness, hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, or get in on our weekly Newsletter. You can catch us for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And hey, if you wanna show us some love and get access to our bonus episodes, subscribe to Planet Money+ on Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Alright, let’s get back to the dollar drama. Will it keep its crown or get dethroned? Only time will tell, my friends.
