Credit Unions Overview

Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of credit unions?

To take in money from members and make consumer loans to them.

How do credit unions differ from traditional banks in terms of ownership?

Credit unions are mutually owned by their depositor members.

Why do casualty insurance companies need to invest a greater proportion of their assets in marketable securities?

Due to the unpredictability of casualty claims, which requires more liquidity.

What are thrift institutions commonly known as, and how do they differ from banks?

They are commonly known as Savings and Loans and are chartered under different regulations. Signup and view all the answers

What types of long-term investment opportunities can pension funds access due to predictable inflows and outflows?

Pension funds can invest in private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, and stands of timber. Signup and view all the answers

What is the market capitalization of Apple as presented in the examples?

3.343 trillion dollars Signup and view all the answers

Calculate 1% of 1 billion dollars.

10 million dollars Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a financial system in an economy?

To provide an efficient flow of funds from savers to borrowers. Signup and view all the answers

If 1% of 1 trillion is equal to 10 billion, what is 4% of 1 trillion?

40 billion dollars Signup and view all the answers

How do financial institutions typically profit from their operations?

By collecting money at a low interest rate and deploying it at a higher rate. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the total amount of US paper money outstanding mentioned in the content.

2.3 trillion dollars Signup and view all the answers

What are financial markets, and what role do they play?

They are venues where financial claims are bought and sold, allowing for the trading of securities. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the US paper currency is made up of $100 bills?

80% Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes money markets from capital markets?

Money markets deal with financial instruments with maturities of less than one year, while capital markets deal with instruments of one year or more. Signup and view all the answers

Calculate 2% of 20 trillion dollars.

400 billion dollars Signup and view all the answers

What role does a central bank play in a financial system?

It oversees the money supply and regulates the banking system. Signup and view all the answers

In what way do financial markets generate income?

Through commissions and fees for their services. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'legal tender' mean as it applies to US paper currency?

It means people have to accept it in payment of a debt. Signup and view all the answers

What types of debt instruments are considered more analytical than stocks?

Short-term and long-term debt instruments. Signup and view all the answers

What is the annual revenue of Amazon according to the examples given?

590 billion dollars Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of having an efficient financial system in advanced economies?

It is essential for facilitating investment, economic growth, and overall market stability. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an economic unit in a surplus position?

An economic unit is in a surplus position when income exceeds spending. Signup and view all the answers

How do deficit spending units (DSUs) obtain the necessary funds?

DSUs issue financial claims to surplus spending units (SSUs) to obtain funds. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between direct and indirect financing?

Direct financing involves no middleman, while indirect financing requires a financial intermediary. Signup and view all the answers

What are the essential characteristics that SSUs and DSUs must agree upon?

They must agree on denomination, maturity, risk, and the ability to sell the financial claim. Signup and view all the answers

What role do financial intermediaries play in the financing process?

Financial intermediaries facilitate the matching of SSUs and DSUs in indirect financing. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if the terms of financial claims are not satisfactory to either SSUs or DSUs?

If terms are not satisfactory, the transaction will not occur. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three categories of economic units?

The three categories are households, business firms, and governments. Signup and view all the answers

Why is direct financing often not practical?

Direct financing is often not practical due to the difficulties in ensuring a match between SSUs and DSUs. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a financial claim for its holder and issuer?

A financial claim is an asset to its holder and a liability to its issuer. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the role of a financial intermediary in indirect financing.

A financial intermediary sells financial claims to SSUs with specific characteristics and buys from DSUs with other characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why financial intermediation is important for a well-functioning economy.

Financial intermediation is crucial because it connects SSU savings with DSU borrowing needs, ensuring idle cash is lent out and utilized effectively. Signup and view all the answers

What types of financial claims do SSUs and DSUs typically prefer, according to the concept of financial intermediation?

SSUs typically prefer short-term claims in small denominations, while DSUs usually prefer long-term claims in large denominations. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential for the financial system to have good institutions and markets?

Good institutions and markets are essential to effectively mobilize savings and allocate them to productive investments. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of direct financing, what happens to money as it flows from SSUs to DSUs?

Money decreases for SSUs and increases for DSUs as they take on financial claims. Signup and view all the answers

How does the definition of financial claims differ between holders and issuers?

For holders, financial claims are considered assets, while for issuers, they are viewed as liabilities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary social benefit of financial intermediation?

The primary social benefit is facilitating the efficient lending of SSU savings to DSUs for productive use. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Credit Unions

Credit unions are non-profit organizations designed to serve members by accepting deposits and providing loans.
Membership is based on a common bond, such as familial ties to military service (e.g., Navy Credit Union).
Owned by members, called mutual ownership, which fosters community investment.

Insurance Companies

Distinction between casualty and life insurance companies revolves around claims predictability.
Casualty insurance demands higher liquidity due to unpredictable claims, requiring investments in easily marketable securities.
Life insurance companies invest in long-term projects due to predictable cash flow.

Thrift Institutions

Thrift institutions, or Savings and Loans, differ from banks and operate under specific regulations.
The S&L crisis from 1986 to 1995 led to significant reductions in these institutions, though recovery was not as severe as the 2008 financial crisis.

Pension Funds and University Endowments

Pension funds can invest in long-term projects like private equity and hedge funds, using predictable inflow and outflow patterns.
University endowments also engage deeply in long-term investments.

Overview of the Financial System

Understanding of financial systems is crucial as they facilitate the economy's functioning by efficiently distributing funds from savers to borrowers through financial institutions and markets.
Financial institutions include commercial banks, insurance companies, and mutual fund companies, which aim to gather funds at low rates and deploy them for profit via interest spreads.

Financial Markets

Financial markets, including the NYSE and bond markets, provide venues for trading financial claims.
Market operators generate profit primarily through commissions and fees, essential for the smooth function of advanced economies.

Money Markets vs. Capital Markets

Money markets deal with short-term debt instruments (under one year), while capital markets manage long-term debt instruments (one year or more).
Debt analysis may be more straightforward compared to stocks, with specific examples highlighting market capitalizations of major companies.

Understanding Large Numbers

Key concepts in dealing with financial calculations include differentiating between million, billion, and trillion.
Familiarity with manipulating large numbers and percentages is necessary for financial analysis.

Currency Trends

US currency usage is in decline, representing less than 2% of GDP, despite an increase in the total amount of currency in circulation.
The $100 bill constitutes the majority of US paper currency, with most in circulation held outside the US.

Economic Units

Economic units (households, businesses, governments) can be in surplus (SSU) or deficit (DSU) positions based on income relative to spending.
SSUs provide financial claims to DSUs to meet their funding needs.

Matching SSUs and DSUs

Successful financing requires matching acceptable terms for both surplus and deficit units regarding the denomination, maturity, and risk of financial claims.
Issues with terms can hinder successful financial exchanges.

Financing Methods

Direct financing involves SSUs and DSUs exchanging funds directly without intermediaries, while indirect financing uses financial intermediaries, like banks.
Indirect financing helps to reconcile the differing requirements of SSUs and DSUs.

Financial Intermediation

Financial intermediation transforms financial claims to better align with SSU and DSU needs by selling and buying claims with varying characteristics.
Effective financial intermediation enhances the economy by ensuring that idle funds are effectively utilized and invested.

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Description

This quiz provides an overview of credit unions, focusing on their non-profit status, membership criteria, and mutual ownership structure. Understand the differences between credit unions and traditional banks, and explore the common bonds that unite members. Ideal for anyone interested in finance and cooperative organizations.