What follows is blatant self interested commercialism. Here is what my latest book (kind of makes it sound like I have a lot of them) is about and how to get it.
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
Book Launch:
Warren Coats’ One Currency for Bosnia:
Creating the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
349 pages
$42.50
Jameson Books
August 3, 2007
Washington, DC – Bosnia and Herzegovina has arisen from war-torn ruins to relative national stability in just ten years – in compelling contrast to the chaos of nation-building efforts elsewhere in the world. The story of rebuilding the monetary and banking systems from these ashes and their contribution the country’s healing and rebirth is a story of national triumph and world hope.
An architect of this historic feat, Dr. Warren Coats of the International Monetary Fund, now offers a chronicle starting before the fighting had stopped — and concluding with reflections about the on-going challenges of establishing stable monetary systems in post conflict countries.
For those who know of Coats’ reputation, the especially good news is that Coats provides insights into human and practical aspects monetary systems, and he offers lessons for those who would undertake similar quests.
What people are saying about One Currency for Bosnia:
- Michael Lind, Author of The American Way of Strategy: “Now that the challenges of rebuilding failed states and shattered societies are central to U.S. foreign policy, his [Coats] lively and fascinating account of one effort at national reconstruction is as timely as it is informative.”
- Mario I. Blejer, Director of the Centre for Central Banking Studies at the Bank of England: “His book not only clarifies potentially obscure economic concepts for the laymen but also illuminates the important interconnections between the economic and political aspects of post conflict reconstruction.”
About the author: Warren Coats is currently an advisor to the central banks of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kazakhstan and is a director of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. During his twenty-six years at the International Monetary Fund he has provided IMF technical assistance to central banks around the globe including in Croatia, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Nigeria, Turkey, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
- Monetary stability is a necessary precondition to a healthy economy. The author demonstrates in plain language the means to achieving this goal.
- Bosnia remains in the world’s headlines as a flashpoint of ethnic and religious conflict, especially the suffering of its Muslim inhabitants.
- Beneath the political rhetoric of peace, democracy and nation-building are the hard realities of economics. Policy writers and academics will find this book an invaluable guide.
- For all academic library collections dealing with history, foreign policy, economics, banking, and the Balkans.
- The Berkeley, Chicago, New York, Boston, and Washington, DC top bookstores should have this on their history, foreign policy and economics shelves.
- Milton Friedman’s more than 2,000 economics PhDs, like Coats, are a formidable market for serious works of economics and are likely avid reviewers.
Title
One Currency for Bosnia
Subtitle
Creating the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Author
Warren Coats, Ph.D. of Bethesda, Maryland
Author Bio
Warren Coats received his undergraduate degree at U.C. Berkeley and his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. Currently advisor to central banks in four countries, he has led technical assistance missions to more than twenty countries, including China, Israel, Egypt, Iraq and the Czech Republic. For 26 years he held various positions at the International Monetary Fund.
This is both a fascinating personal narrative of the often colorful warriors rebuilding a part of war-torn Yugoslavia, and a detailed inside look at how experts can stabilize a nation’s currency and banking system. Written by an American who has led International Monetary Fund advisory missions to the central banks of more than twenty countries, this book, crafted in layman’s language — but of immense value to specialists in monetary and foreign policy initiatives — is an account of the behind-the-headlines work American and other economists do to bring peace and prosperity to former failed states.
Coats was involved in the creation of the Central Bank of Bosnia from before the Dayton Peace Accords. His “currency board” rules for monetary policy, and the creation of the bank, have resulted in the most successful state institution in the country.
Marking the tenth anniversary of the bank, the technical world of economics comes alive as the book unfolds like a mystery novel full of colorful and determined people determined to escape the disaster of a bloody civil war.
Order from Amazon:
Bosnia book endorsements
Front cover:
“Warren Coats’ well told account of the establishment of a currency board in war torn Bosnia and Herzegovina is fascinating and insightful reading.”
Robert Mundell, Nobel Prize in Economics in 1999
Inside before the title page
Robert Mundell, Nobel Prize in Economics in 1999, Professor of Economics, Columbia University ram15@columbia.edu
“Currency board systems have become more popular since the collapse of the Soviet Union and with good reason: they provide a good option for monetary policy formation in countries where a suitable anchor currency is available. Warren Coats’ well told account of the establishment of a currency board in war torn Bosnia and Herzegovina is fascinating and insightful reading. His mastery of detail and intimate knowledge of that unusual environment, both political and economic, challenge and deepen our understanding of monetary systems and policies.”
Richard Rahn, Director of Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, former Chief Economist of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and syndicated columnist and author. rwrahn@noveconfinancial.com
“If you were going to build a monetary system that would heal the wounds of a civil war devastated country and help lay the foundation for economic recovery and development, what would you do? Warren Coats provides the answer given for Bosnia and Herzegovina in his well told story of the establishment of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Readers of his book will follow the detective like uncovering of the workings of the unique Yugoslav banking and payment system and the challenges faced and overcome in replacing it with a modern, market based system.”
Mario I. Blejer, Former Governor of the Central Bank of Argentina (2001 to 02) and Senior Advisor in the IMF (1980 to 2001). Currently Director of the Centre for Central Banking Studies at the Bank of England.
“Warren Coats describes and analyzes the very complicated and extremely relevant process of the establishment of Bosnia’s present monetary system in clear, highly readable prose. His book not only clarifies potentially obscure economic concepts for the laymen but also illuminates the important interconnections between the economic and political aspects of post conflict reconstruction.”
Back dusk jacket:
Carl Bildt, Former High Representative of the UN in Bosnia, Former Prime Minister of Sweden, Current Foreign Minister of Sweden carl.bildt@foreign.ministry.se
“The democratization process in Bosnia was one of the most exciting periods of my life. And in the lives of all the courageous people who were involved. The history deserves to be told over and over again. I told parts of it in my own book. Now, Dr Coats has taken the trouble to recall his own fascinating experience with the establishment of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina. His account is an invaluable contribution to the never ending story of the Balkans.”
Serge Robert, First Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Oct 1996 to October 1997) sergejrobert@noos.fr
“This excellent book written by Warren Coats about the creation of the new Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina is well worth reading. The author meticulously relates various aspects of history, monetary policy and human behavior in a clear, lively, humorous and enthralling style. The book reports how, after a grueling war, some men – still impregnated with rancor and distrust – bridled their own resentment, working together to build a monetary institution vital to their common future. Warren, with a great IMF team, played a major role in encouraging mutual understanding and co-operation. Today, on the eve of its 10th anniversary, the Central Bank has proved to be a real success. Warren Coats’ book will be an appropriate gift to mark such an event.”
Michael Lind, Whitehead Senior Fellow, The New America Foundation and Author of The American Way of Strategy (Oxford, 2006) and other history and policy books and articles. Lind@newamerica.net
“The mission of Warren Coats in Bosnia was as much diplomatic as economic. Now that the challenges of rebuilding failed states and shattered societies are central to U.S. foreign policy, his lively and fascinating account of one effort at national reconstruction is as timely as it is informative.”
Steve Hanke, Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins U Baltimore MD and leading authority on currency boards. hanke@jhu.edu
“The newly independent Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged in shambles from a bloody civil war in late 1995. Warren Coats, a premier emerging market monetary expert, was central to the design and implementation of the currency board system that restored Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy. His book represents a scholarly and comprehensive, yet readable, realistic, and insightful account of one of the world’s most successful modern currency reforms. One Currency for Bosnia should be required reading for all those who are serious about stable money.”
Warren's space 