Course 8 · Advanced
Currencies and the global system
Reserve status, de-dollarization, BRICS, sanctions and energy — with the data that exists and honesty about the rest.
10 lessons, about 96 minutes
What you will be able to do
- Explain why the dollar is the reserve currency in structural terms.
- Say what has and has not changed in settlement patterns.
- Read a de-dollarization headline without either dismissing or catastrophising.
Lessons
Lesson 1 · 10 min · free preview
What reserve status actually is
Depth, law, liquidity and habit — not a decree.
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Lesson 2 · 10 min
The petrodollar, carefully
Oil invoicing in dollars is real; the popular history is looser than the record.
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Lesson 3 · 10 min
BRICS: what exists and what does not
Local-currency settlement and payment rails exist; a common currency does not.
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Lesson 4 · 9 min
PPP versus nominal GDP, and why comparisons argue
The two measures give different answers about bloc size, both legitimately.
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Lesson 5 · 10 min
How sanctions changed reserve thinking
Freezing reserves demonstrated a risk other states now price.
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Lesson 6 · 9 min
Why central banks hold gold at all
No default risk, no issuer, and it settles without a system.
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Lesson 7 · 9 min
What moves an exchange rate
Rate differentials, flows, and expectations.
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Lesson 8 · 10 min
Metals as strategic material
Silver and platinum-group metals sit in defence, energy and electronics supply chains.
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Lesson 9 · 9 min
Energy, inflation and the monetary link
Energy prices transmit into everything, muddying monetary diagnosis.
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Lesson 10 · 10 min
What would actually signal a regime change?
Named, checkable indicators rather than vibes.
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Rather ask a person?
A specialist will answer a specific question without a pitch. No account needed, no obligation. Monday – Friday, 7am – 4pm Pacific.