The document outlines the definition and functions of money, including its role as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value. It discusses the evolution of payment systems from commodity and fiat money to electronic forms, while also addressing the potential for a cashless society and the role of Bitcoin. Additionally, it explains how to measure money through monetary aggregates M1 and M2, highlighting their significance for policymakers.
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Barter and Money Market
The document outlines the definition and functions of money, including its role as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value. It discusses the evolution of payment systems from commodity and fiat money to electronic forms, while also addressing the potential for a cashless society and the role of Bitcoin. Additionally, it explains how to measure money through monetary aggregates M1 and M2, highlighting their significance for policymakers.
Meaning of Money (1 of 2) • Money (or the “money supply”): anything that is generally accepted as payment for goods or services or in the repayment of debts. • A broad definition
Meaning of Money (2 of 2) • Money (a stock concept) is different from: – Wealth: the total collection of pieces of property that serve to store value – Income: flow of earnings per unit of time (a flow concept)
Functions of Money (1 of 2) • Medium of Exchange: – Eliminates the trouble of finding a double coincidence of needs (reduces transaction costs) – Promotes specialization • A medium of exchange must: – be easily standardized – be widely accepted – be divisible – be easy to carry – not deteriorate quickly
Functions of Money (2 of 2) • Unit of Account: – Used to measure value in the economy – Reduces transaction costs • Store of Value: – Used to save purchasing power over time. – Other assets also serve this function. – Money is the most liquid of all assets but loses value during inflation.
Evolution of the Payments System (1 of 2) • Commodity Money: valuable, easily standardized, and divisible commodities (e.g. precious metals, cigarettes) – shortcomings: heavy and uneasy to transport from one place to another • Fiat Money: paper money decreed by governments as legal tender (can be accepted as legal payment for debts) – features: It is no longer backed by a physical commodity and its value depends on market demand and supply
Evolution of the Payments System (2 of 2) • Checks: an instruction to your bank to transfer money from your account • Electronic Payment (e.g. online bill pay) • E-Money (electronic money): – Debit card – Stored-value card (smart card) – E-cash
Are We Headed for a Cashless Society? • Predictions of a cashless society have been around for decades, but they have not come to fruition. • Although e-money might be more convenient and efficient than a payments system based on paper, several factors work against the disappearance of the paper system. • However, the use of e-money will likely still increase in the future.
Will Bitcoin Become the Money of the Future? • Bitcoin is a type of electronic money created in 2009. • By “mining,” Bitcoin is created by decentralized users when they use their computing power to verify and process transactions. • Although Bitcoin functions as a medium of exchange, it is unlikely to become the money of the future because it performs less well as a unit of account and a store of value.
Measuring Money (1 of 2) • How do we measure money? Which particular assets can be called “money”? • Construct monetary aggregates using the concept of liquidity: – M1 (most liquid assets) = currency + traveler’s checks + demand deposits + other checkable deposits
Measuring Money (2 of 2) • M2 (adds to M1 other assets that are not so liquid) = M1 + small denomination time deposits + savings deposits and money market deposit accounts + money market mutual fund shares
The Federal Reserve’s Monetary Aggregates (3 of 3)
• M1 versus M2: Does it matter which measure of money is
considered? • M1 and M2 can move in different directions in the short run (see figure). • Conclusion: the choice of monetary aggregate is important for policymakers.