The US-Centric International Economic System after World War II | Steven Davis, Maurice Obstfeld | Hoover Institution

Since the end of World War II, the United States has played the leading role in designing, supporting, and governing the international economic system. How did the system operate, and what were its underlying principles, goals, and challenges? Steven Davis speaks to Maurice Obstfeld about the international economic system that emerged after World War II, the central role of the United States, and how the positive-sum nature of the system fostered prosperity. They consider how the system functioned in the Bretton Woods era, the Nixon Shock of 1971, high inflation in the 1970s, transition to sound monetary policy in the 1980s, and how the U.S. Dollar became even more central to the system in the 1990s. RELATED SOURCES “The International Monetary and Financial System: A Fork in the Road,” Andrew Crockett Memorial Lecture delivered by Maurice Obstfeld in Basel, Switzerland, 29 June 2025. ABOUT ECONOMICS, APPLIED Economics, Applied brings together top leaders and researchers to break down key economic developments, offering evidence-based insights and practical lessons for navigating today’s economy. Economic change is constant. Subscribe to keep up: hoover.org/podcasts/economics-applied.