Argentina's $5 Billion Lesson On The Laffer Curve

Recently, and in the short span of 4 trading days, Argentina's peso suffered a 10% drop, leaving it down 30% vis a vis the dollar over the past year. The Central Bank spent some $5.5 billion of its reserves trying to stem the latest decline, which was arrested only after the central bank hiked short-term rates to a punishing 40% and the government promised to cut spending.