As World War II came to an end, world leaders met at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in 1944 to establish an international monetary system. The system established pegged the U.S. dollar to gold at $35.00 an ounce and pegged the other currencies of the developed world to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate. This system lasted until 1971. Today the currency system operates more or less on a floating rate system of fiat currencies.

How might you explain the evolution of the international monetary system and currency exchange rates? Is the system effective in both its past and current forms? What is the effect of currency exchange rates on the global business environment?

Please give references.