Explain how the special drawing rights (SDR) is constructed. Also, discuss the circumstances under which the SDR was created.
Answer: SDR was made by the IMF in 1970 as a new reserve asset, partly to alleviate the pressure on the U.S. dollar as the key reserve currency. The SDR is a basket currency have five main currencies, that is U.S. dollar, German mark, Japanese yen, French franc, and British pound. Presently, the dollar receives a 40% weight, mark 21%, yen 17%, franc 11%, and pound 11%. The weights for dissimilar currencies tend to change over time, reflecting the relative significance of each currency in international trade and finance.