HKS Authors

See citation below for complete author information.

Abstract

Contrary to the intent of the designers of what was to be an irreversible currency union, Greece may well exit the Eurozone. This column argues that default does not inevitably trigger the introduction of a new currency (or the re-activation of an old one). However, if ‘de-euroisation’ is the end game, then a forcible (or compulsory) currency conversion is likely to be a central part of that process, along with more broad-based capital controls.

Citation

Reinhart, Carmen. "Lessons for Greece: Forcible Currency Conversions from 1982 to 2015." VOX, July 9, 2015.