<p>Buying and selling of currencies in Argentina is currently strongly controlled by the government:
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/09/argentina-imports-idUSL5N0VJ4I520150209" rel="nofollow">http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/09/argentina-imports-idUSL5N0VJ4I520150209</a></p>

<p>This means that you cannot buy as many Dollars as you want, but the ones you buy you get at a government controlled exchange rate, which is actually cheaper. The Argentine government might have to pay 10 Pesos for a Dollar, but they sell it to the importer for 8 Pesos. They do this so that consumer prices do not spiral out of control. Hence the current exchange rate is not what it would be in an uncontrolled market. Further devaluation (controlled by the government) is expected next year, because this subsidized exchange is too costly for the government:
<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-18/argentine-peso-forwards-at-record-show-devaluation-bet-for-2016" rel="nofollow">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-18/argentine-peso-forwards-at-record-show-devaluation-bet-for-2016</a></p>

<p>As for your second question: while the Peso may not have any value outside of Argentina, individuals and firms that buy products in Argentina will still have a use for it. For example a US firm importing and selling Argentine beef will trade Dollars for Pesos.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-23T14:43:15.880Z
In fact, I knew all facts you are citing above. But I was missing the link, that if no one can buy foreign currencies without restriction, there is also no one offering Argentine Pesos without restrictions but the government itself. Now it is clear to me, why the market for this currency is not respecting the laws of a free market but is controlled by the governement. What hit me: the "dolar soja". The exporter receives the value in ARS according to official rate (pure illusion) minus 35%! And they're wondering why no one wants to work any more...
Marc Wittke
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-19T23:50:39.797Z
2015-05-20T06:43:47.983Z
2015-05-20T06:43:47.983Z
Giskard
<p>In the last twelve months, the argentine peso (ARS) <a href="http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&amp;to=ARS&amp;view=1Y" rel="nofollow">lost about 11% of its value</a> in comparison to USD.</p>

<p>In the same time range the <a href="http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1794138-inflacion" rel="nofollow">prices rouse about 29% (spanish)</a>.</p>

<p>What's the reason for this effect? I am living in Argentina for about 2 years, and the prices even feel worse to the published statistics. The government is acting very "special": it's starting social programs one after another and is building lots of (unneeded, or at least oversized) infrastructure using money with unclear origin (well, a lot of this money is draining in similar circumstances, too).</p>

<p>So, who is willing to pay this price for Pesos, since they do not have any value outside of argentina? In my expectation the demand for Pesos is really low, and since Argentina maintains a trade deficit, it is forced to import lots of goods, payed with Dollars. They should have a pressing demand for Dollars. And economics say: low demand + great offer = low price.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-24T16:15:35.577Z
In my opinion the reason for this is the government giving away Dollars at 10 to 11 ARS more generous to private persons in the past year (still you have to prove, that you pay taxes for your income and have to do lots of paperwork "tramités"). Remember, it's election year ;-)
Marc Wittke
<inflation><exchange-rates>
Why is the Argentine Peso still so expensive?
Marc Wittke
# Why is the Argentine Peso still so expensive?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-19)

In the last twelve months, the argentine peso (ARS) [lost about 11% of its value](http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&to=ARS&view=1Y) in comparison to USD.

In the same time range the [prices rouse about 29% (spanish)](http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1794138-inflacion).

What's the reason for this effect? I am living in Argentina for about 2 years, and the prices even feel worse to the published statistics. The government is acting very "special": it's starting social programs one after another and is building lots of (unneeded, or at least oversized) infrastructure using money with unclear origin (well, a lot of this money is draining in similar circumstances, too).

So, who is willing to pay this price for Pesos, since they do not have any value outside of argentina? In my expectation the demand for Pesos is really low, and since Argentina maintains a trade deficit, it is forced to import lots of goods, payed with Dollars. They should have a pressing demand for Dollars. And economics say: low demand + great offer = low price.

**Tags:** inflation, exchange-rates

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: In my opinion the reason for this is the government giving away Dollars at 10 to 11 ARS more generous to private persons in the past year (still you have to prove, that you pay taxes for your income and have to do lots of paperwork "tramités"). Remember, it's election year ;-)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-05-19. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Buying and selling of currencies in Argentina is currently strongly controlled by the government:
<http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/09/argentina-imports-idUSL5N0VJ4I520150209>

This means that you cannot buy as many Dollars as you want, but the ones you buy you get at a government controlled exchange rate, which is actually cheaper. The Argentine government might have to pay 10 Pesos for a Dollar, but they sell it to the importer for 8 Pesos. They do this so that consumer prices do not spiral out of control. Hence the current exchange rate is not what it would be in an uncontrolled market. Further devaluation (controlled by the government) is expected next year, because this subsidized exchange is too costly for the government:
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-18/argentine-peso-forwards-at-record-show-devaluation-bet-for-2016>

As for your second question: while the Peso may not have any value outside of Argentina, individuals and firms that buy products in Argentina will still have a use for it. For example a US firm importing and selling Argentine beef will trade Dollars for Pesos.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: In fact, I knew all facts you are citing above. But I was missing the link, that if no one can buy foreign currencies without restriction, there is also no one offering Argentine Pesos without restrictions but the government itself. Now it is clear to me, why the market for this currency is not respecting the laws of a free market but is controlled by the governement. What hit me: the "dolar soja". The exporter receives the value in ARS according to official rate (pure illusion) minus 35%! And they're wondering why no one wants to work any more...  

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