Kirill Pankratov (neznaika_nalune) wrote,
Kirill Pankratov
neznaika_nalune

Failed state

Ukraine’s currency just collapsed 50 percent in two days


Ukraine, to use a technical term, is broke. That's what you call a country whose currency has lost half its value in just two days.

The problem is simple: Ukraine has no money and barely any economy. It's already talking to the IMF about a $15 billion bailout and what's euphemistically being called a debt "restructuring"—i.e., default—as its reserves have dwindled down to $6.42 billion, only enough to cover five weeks of imports. (Three months worth is considered the absolute least you can get by with).

So it was more than a bit belated for Ukraine to stop spending the few dollars it does have on propping up its currency, the hryvnia. It took until Thursday for it to do that, though, and, when it did, the reaction was swift and it was violent. The hyrvnia fell from 16.8 to 24.4 per dollar, and then again to 25.3 on Friday, on the news that the government wouldn't intervene it in anymore. In all, it was a 50 percent decline in 48 hours. And this was despite the fact that its central bank simultaneously jacked up interest rates from 14 to 19.5 percent to try to get people to hold their money in hyrvinia that would pay them a lot instead of dollars that wouldn't. That, as you can see, didn't exactly work.

Now let's back up a minute. Why is Ukraine so doomed? Well, it's been mismanaged on a world-historical scale by oligarchs who, for decades, have skimmed billions off the country's nonexistent growth. That last part's not hyperbole. It seems almost impossible, but Ukraine's economy has actually shrunk since communism ended in 1991. Or since 1992. Or even 1993. And now its not-so-cold war with Russia is destroying the little that's left. It's not just that the rebel strongholds in the factory-heavy east have deprived Ukraine of a quarter of its industrial capacity. It's that it can't afford to fight against what's still it's biggest trading partner—Russia. Think about that. You don't usually trade a lot with the country you're going to battle against, but Ukraine's economy is so dependent on Russia's that it still trades more with it than any other country. That means anything that hurts Russia, like lower oil prices or sanctions, just redounds onto Ukraine, and puts it in an even bigger financial hole....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/06/ukraines-currency-has-fallen-50-percent-in-two-days/
Subscribe

  • Цензура обиженных

    Статья "Антропология в отступлении" о еще одном аспекте кризиса современной науки. Антропологам, генетикам, историкам постоянно приходится…

  • Идите в баню!

    В Кремниевой долине изобрели питчинг стартапов в сауне. Это теперь новый популярный способ собрать инвестиции. https://t.me/bponline/108669…

  • Сад Борреля

    Испанская "Катрина". Как и в случае "Катрины" в Новом Орлеане в 2005 случился полный паралич всех властей (местных и…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
    You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
  • 55 comments
Previous
← Ctrl ← Alt
Next
Ctrl → Alt →
Previous
← Ctrl ← Alt
Next
Ctrl → Alt →

  • Цензура обиженных

    Статья "Антропология в отступлении" о еще одном аспекте кризиса современной науки. Антропологам, генетикам, историкам постоянно приходится…

  • Идите в баню!

    В Кремниевой долине изобрели питчинг стартапов в сауне. Это теперь новый популярный способ собрать инвестиции. https://t.me/bponline/108669…

  • Сад Борреля

    Испанская "Катрина". Как и в случае "Катрины" в Новом Орлеане в 2005 случился полный паралич всех властей (местных и…