Dedollarization in Liberia-Lessons From Cross-Country Experience

By Jeta Menkulasi, Lodewyk Erasmus, Jules Leichter

March 1, 2009

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Jeta Menkulasi, Lodewyk Erasmus, and Jules Leichter. Dedollarization in Liberia-Lessons From Cross-Country Experience, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2009) accessed June 25, 2025

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

Liberia's experience with a dual currency regime, with the U.S. dollar enjoying legal tender status, dates to its founding as a sovereign country in 1847. Following the end of the most recent episode of civil war in late-2003, the new government has expressed interest in strengthening the role of the Liberian dollar. Liberia, however, is heavily dollarized, with the U.S. dollar estimated to account for about 90 percent of money supply. Cross-country experience suggests that dollarization does not preclude monetary policy from achieving its primary objective of price stability, and that successful and lasting dedollarization may be difficult to achieve.

Subject: Bank deposits, Currencies, Dollarization, Economic sectors, Financial sector, Financial services, Monetary base, Monetary policy, Money

Keywords: Bank deposits, Currencies, Currency, Currency board arrangement, Dedollarization, Deposit dollarization ratio, Dollar, Dollarization, Dollarization case, Dollarization effort, Financial sector, Liberia, Market, Monetary base, Transactions dollarization, U.S. dollar, Unit of account, West Africa, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

23
Volume:

---
DOI:

---
Issue:

---
Series:

Working Paper No. 2009/037
Stock No:

WPIEA2009037
ISBN:

9781451871852
ISSN:

1018-5941

IMF’s Work

RESOURCES

TOPICS

Flagship Publications

Other Publications

IMF reports and publications by country

Regional Offices

All News

See Also

For Journalists

Press Center

RESOURCES

FLAGSHIPS

KEY SERIES

IMF NOTES

IMF Working Papers