Financial services with global reach are a highly information-intensive business. In it, the ability to deliver reliable price formation, global liquidity, and network benefits is increasingly critical for the choice of currency denomination. Conversely, the exchange value and prospective usefulness of small currencies becomes less certain, and transaction costs for them may rise. Economic instability is invited as currency and portfolio substitution with the dominant international currency denomination increase the likelihood of currency mismatches and financial crises. In view of these faili ... More

Financial services with global reach are a highly information-intensive business. In it, the ability to deliver reliable price formation, global liquidity, and network benefits is increasingly critical for the choice of currency denomination. Conversely, the exchange value and prospective usefulness of small currencies becomes less certain, and transaction costs for them may rise. Economic instability is invited as currency and portfolio substitution with the dominant international currency denomination increase the likelihood of currency mismatches and financial crises. In view of these failings of many of the financially small currencies, the number of currencies worldwide well may shrink greatly in the decades ahead.