Doller, euro, ruble, yuan, yen, pound, franc. The world of money is sprinkled with names. When traveling, you change rubles to liras, then to dirhams, then to bаты. Why can't there be one currency for everyone? It's convenient. But behind every piece of paper is sovereignty, history, economic policy, and a bit of magic. Let's figure out where different money came from, why it's needed, and why the dollar is still the main one, but not eternal. Why can't there be one currency for everyone The idea of a single world currency is as old as the world. Keynes proposed it in the 1940s. But there are three big problems. The first is sovereignty. Each country wants to manage its economy. To issue as much money as needed, to raise the rate, to devalue in a crisis. If there is a single currency, then all these levers go to an supranational body. Countries are not ready. The second is different levels of economies. Germany and Greece have the same currency - the euro. But Germany is richer and more efficient. It turns out that Germans subsidize Greeks. In a single world currency, poor countries would drag rich ones down, and the rich would not want to share. The third is crises. If the currency is common, then in a crisis in one country it will immediately spread to all. You can't devalue, you can't print money alone. You can only tighten your belt and wait for help from neighbors. The Eurozone experienced this in 2010-2015. Painfully. Therefore, 180 countries - 180 currencies. Plus local ones: dollar in Zimbabwe, euro in Montenegro, Russian ruble in Abkhazia. It turns out a mess, but it's alive. How currencies appear Each currency has its own history of birth. Usually - together with the state. Proclaimed independence - you need your own money. Print it. But it can be otherwise. The euro appeared not with a new state, but with a treaty between old ones. 1999 - cashless euro, 2002 - coins and banknotes. Immediately 12 countries refused to use their marks, francs, ... Read more