Posted on 02/28/2022 9:28:57 AM PST by SeekAndFind
When you hear the word, “dollar,” you probably think of the U.S. dollar. It is, after all, the most widely used dollar in the world. In fact, the U.S. dollar (known as USD at international currency exchanges) is accepted in many cities, countries, and regions of the world either as primary or secondary currency. The U.S. dollar is also currently the reserve currency of many countries. A reserve currency is a specific type of money held by central banks and international financial institutions to trade with one another.
The United States is not the only country to use an official currency called a dollar, however. For example, the dollars of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Liberia are all called dollars but are completely different types of national currency. Many of these were originally based on British pounds, such as the Jamaican dollar and the Canadian dollar.
Many countries use the American dollar to invest, pay an international debt, or trade with other nations.
Commodities such as gold and oil are even priced in USD so other countries can easily purchase them using their reserve currency.
Given the strength of the U.S. dollar, some countries have decided not just to use it as a reserve currency, but their own currency as well.
In fact, 16 other countries and regions use USD within their borders right now.
The strength and widespread use of American dollars make it very appealing to other nations that welcome millions of U.S. tourists every single year. Not only does this make it simple for Americans to travel with their own money, but it also saves them time and money that they would otherwise spend at local currency exchange centers.
The following countries and territories use U.S. dollars instead of a unique local currency:
As you can see, most of these locations are in the Caribbean and South America—places physically near the United States. Many are also popular tourist destinations.
Due to the regular flow of tourism from America to the Caribbean and other holiday hot spots (or business centers) it made economic sense for these countries to accept USD.
Doing so has not only preserved valuable American tourism but strengthened it.
In most cases, exchange rates between two currencies fluctuate daily according to the supply and demand of each. The more popular a currency, the more people buy it, and the higher the price rises.
For example, when tourism rises in Mexico during the holiday season, more people buy Mexican pesos and therefore the price becomes higher. That means when you exchange another currency for pesos, you’ll get fewer pesos than you would during the off-season.
In some cases, national banks decide to keep a fixed exchange rate on certain foreign currencies such as the U.S. dollar. The purpose of this is to encourage regular use of USD in places where it is already commonly used.
Fixing an exchange rate, whether to the U.S. dollar or another strong currency, is also called “pegging,” as in, “Hong Kong pegged its currency to the U.S. dollar.“
When a national bank fixes an exchange rate it usually does so with the currency of a regular trading partner. Doing so can strengthen trade between the two countries and keep both economies more stable.
Fixing the U.S. dollar exchange rate within a foreign country protects the stability of the U.S. dollar so visitors and businesses can rely on fixed costs. It encourages more individuals and companies to invest in those countries, boosting multiple economies.
Countries that currently have a fixed-rate currency exchange with the American dollar include:
Again, many of these countries are travel destinations for Americans. Others, like Hong Kong, are top business destinations.
The Hong Kong dollar has been pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1983 when Hong Kong’s local dollar experienced a dive in value. A run on the national Hang Lung Bank required drastic action.
The Hong Kong government decided to peg its own dollar to the U.S. dollar to show confidence in its economic future and keep and attract investors and corporations to the country.
The Hong Kong government intended to align Hong Kong with America instead of China and the Chinese yuan.
The U.S. dollar, also called the greenback, is not the only strong currency on the market that is used internationally. Others include the euro, used throughout the European Union, and the pound sterling, which is used in Great Britain as well nine other countries and regions.
As a former dominating force in international colonization, the United Kingdom still has influence in countries all over the world. Eight regions have pegged their own currencies to the pound sterling, eager to preserve ties with the sixth-largest economy in the world.
The U.S. dollar is a very commonly used currency in the tourism industry. In fact, some cities and regions with high rates of tourism accept greenbacks as legal tender even if their national bank does not.
A good example is the Caribbean region of Mexico. A vacation favorite with Americans and many other people, this region is home to the Mayan Riviera, beautiful turquoise seas, and warm breezes.
The Mexican Caribbean uses the Mexican peso as its official currency, but while shopping, dining, and paying for excursions throughout the Caribbean you can often just exchange American dollars. These are traded among residents, used to pay for services, or exchanged in bulk for local pesos.
All of them........................
The Phillipines even use ‘American’ English.
As the official adopted national currency - not just that they “use” them.
Anyone who is a long-time subscriber to the “Itchy Boots” YouTube channel (now in Season 6) knows very well that the dollar is the only currency that Noraly can rely on as she travels alone around the world on her companion motorbikes. From India to Kazakstan to Namibia and now South America she always carries a fair amount of USD currency that she can use to pay for food, lodging, gas, and repairs. Don’t leave home without it.
They won’t turn ‘em down................
“What Countries In the World Use American Dollars?”
Most do, seen our foreign gifts?
And this isn’t near all of them. Oh, it may look different after it gets there, but it’s still ours.
wy69
Just like English is the international language now, not French or Latin.
There is not a place on the globe that you can not use the USD.
I lived in Ecuador for 7 years until the 2020 nonsense began. If you ever wonder what happened to the US dollar coins, they are in Ecuador. In a mostly cash exchange, these coins were great. Hardly ever saw a dollar bill.
El Salvador looks like a nice place for a second home. One more term of President Chomojoe and there will be no more gangsters in El Salvador. They will all be in the US.
It means when the US imposes the inflation tax it gets to tax a whole lot more people than just Americans.
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