Caroline Pellegrin, Chapter 11, Question Six

Prior to reading this chapter my thoughts concerning the US currency in relation to the that of the rest of the world were fairly superficial. In short, I knew that the one US dollar was equivalent to less than one euro. Meaning that when I nannied in France, spending money on ice cream (a personal necessity) felt wrong.  I knew that I was paying way more in relation to the dollar amount, to buy an ice cream cone in euros- the dollar is weaker than the euro. Did this prevent me from buying ice cream? No, but it did ensue some economic guilt. What I didn't really understand were the implications that the value of the dollar has beyound myself. After reading this chapter, I now understand that a weak currency isn't necessarily a completely "bad thing." This is because a weak currency makes American goods less expenive for other countries to buy, i.e. good for commerce. But at what point does a weak currency become an utter hindrance? I was left with an unsettled question- like monetary and fiscal policy, to what degree is it "just" for the government to play around with the value of the dollar? Something that, in such a globalized world, will affect each and everyone of us. The hand becomes less and less invisible. Maybe...?