Even though the american dollar's value is going down the pan, it's still the most desired currency in SE Asia and I'm guessing Africa too. Why?
Maybe tradition has a lot to do with it. But it doesn't make any fiscal sense. I'm going to Laos today to extend my Thai visa. To get into Laos, I need to buy a Laotian visa for $30US. If I don't have dollars, I need to pay 1500baht(about 48 dollars). I don't understand why.
because everyone but europe is taking a while to get the idea that the us is going down... lol, except the middle east, 'cause they're planning on helping the good ole us out in the down the shitter thing...
you guys really need to colour code and plastic coat your money like we do it's so easy to see what you have in your wallet and the bills can withstand any environmental trauma.
Well, I've gotta get going. It's a longish motorcycle ride to the border. I think I'll ask the guards why they like dollars so much.
British pounds have been worth more for a long time. It's really a matter of the US being a more active trading partner with SE Asia, then the somewhat artificial value assigned to conversions of currency.
Can't really do much with an Euro in Africa and such. Sure can do a lot with a dollar though. All the cheap blowjobs in the world.
it is quite strange. american dollars seem to fly anywhere. I'd say it's just tradition, and everyone recognizes and knows the value of a US dollar in relation to their own currency, so it's easier to accept than euros or pounds or $AU or what have you. by the way, the GBP has been dropping for a while, too. those things are quite cheap now.
Well, I'm just back from Laos. I asked the guard why the visa was cheaper if I paid in dollars. He simply said that you could buy more with a dollar than with baht. I didn't have the time nor the inclination to start a real discussion but that is such a bullshit reason. With 950 baht, you can buy 30$ at the bank; I did so this morning before I drove to theborder. So why does a visa cost 1500baht or $30. It just doesn't make sense.
The Dollar is just a damn good-looking currency in my opinion. All of them are green and they're the same size (unlike some Euros I could mention). I really like the Dollar.
in past, the risk of using the dollar was pretty low in terms of losing money on investments. and you didn't have to worry about stability issues either. theres a lot more to it and much more complex than just "tradition"
Inertia - people in those countries have got used to the dollar being strong. Now it isn't and it takes em a little while to get used to. Currently (boom boom) the strongest I've seen is the Euro - the UK pound is declining rapidly, and really todo international business it's Euros or Japanese Yen.
I used to have to explain to English and American tourists that not only was the dollar and the pound not an official currency in Ireland but that I wasn't going to accept them and change them cos they were just worth less than the IR Pound and then the Euro. Alot of the time I don't think they believed me. Even the US Students who come here to study take a while to get the idea that the dollar isn't that great. I'd say that the reason they're still preferred is cos people know that the US state isn't going anywhere any time soon.
