A SYMPOSIUM OF VIEWS Is the Chinese currency, the renminbi, dangerously undervalued and a threat to the global economy? Over thirty important experts offer their views. Background: Chinese companies themselves—with their virtually zero marginal labor cost work force— lack global reach. But are foreign companies now investing heavily in China as a manufacturing base setting the stage for ever-increasing global deflationary pressures? Areas such as the Pearl River delta are now attracting $1 billion per month in foreign investment. In theory, such a shock to the system should produce offsetting adjustments from the global central banking community. But have the central bankers responded adequately? How, if at all, should the G7 policy community THE MAGAZINE OF address the Chinese currency issue? To what extent do INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY escalating foreign investments in China set the stage 888 16th Street, N.W. Suite 740 eventually for a potential destabilizing of the entire world Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: 202-861-0791 trading system? Or are all of these concerns essentially Fax: 202-861-0790 unwarranted? www.international-economy.com
[email protected] SPRING 2003 THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY 25 Yes, and the Yes, for both nightmare is coming. domestic and international reasons. BARTON M. BIGGS C. FRED BERGSTEN Managing Director and Chief Global Strategist, Director, Institute for International Economics, Morgan Stanley and former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs here is no doubt that the huge, mindless inflow of investment money into China is increasing global hina should float the renminbi, and permit it to ap- Tdeflationary pressure on manufactured goods.