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The optimum quantity of money proposition, whose validity is agreed on, is actually open to criticism. The present paper argues that the weaknesses of the Friedman Rule from the application of the welfare theorems of general equilibrium theory to a monetary economy and shows how, the consistency of the criticism notwithstanding, the optimal solution can still be implemented.

This paper inquires into monetary standards, focusing on the characteristics of money instead of the exchange rate regime. The transition from commodity to fiat money, a major break in monetary evolution, has led to international arrangements that represent an application of the competitive money supply model (section 1), which is consistent with various optimality criteria and has far‐reaching implications for the future development of the monetary system (section 2).

The Bretton Woods agreements set up the post‐war monetary order on the basis of fixed exchange rates and autonomous national economic policy. Changes in parity were allowed in the case of fundamental disequilibrium, but this concept was not defined, promoting a lengthy but sterile debate. This paper, after reviewing the main features of the discussion, analyzes Keynes's overlooked contribution, which helps to clarify the issue at stake.

According to the New Monetary Economics (NME), the introduction of non‐tangible payments media would altogether invalidate current monetary economics. After an illustration of the main tenets of the NME, critically analyses its rejection of both the quantity theory and liquidity preference on the basis of Keynes′ theory of money.