Monetary System Overview
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Questions and Answers

What are demand deposits primarily recognized as?

  • Investments in money market funds
  • Funds held in checking accounts (correct)
  • Physical currency only
  • Funds held in savings accounts
  • What distinguishes bitcoins from commodity money?

  • Bitcoins have no intrinsic value. (correct)
  • Bitcoins have intrinsic value.
  • Bitcoins can be used for multiple purposes beyond exchange.
  • Bitcoins are created by government decree.
  • Which function of money is currently least fulfilled by bitcoin?

  • Medium of exchange
  • Unit of account (correct)
  • All three functions are equally fulfilled
  • Store of value
  • What aspect of bitcoins do some users find appealing?

    <p>Anonymity in transactions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about the price of bitcoin is true?

    <p>Bitcoin prices have fluctuated wildly. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a central bank in a fiat money system?

    <p>Controlling the supply of money through monetary policy. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic of bitcoin makes it a risky way to hold wealth?

    <p>High day-to-day price volatility. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a reason some economists are skeptical about bitcoin's future?

    <p>Its poor performance in traditional money functions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is monetary policy primarily concerned with?

    <p>Control of the money supply. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of the initial deposit does the bank keep in reserve?

    <p>20% (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much money is eventually created from an original deposit of $1,000 when the reserve-deposit ratio is 0.2?

    <p>$5,000 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process called that transfers resources from savers to borrowers?

    <p>Financial Intermediation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following financial institutions has the legal authority to create assets that are part of the money supply?

    <p>Banks (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does money creation by the banking system primarily increase in the economy?

    <p>Liquidity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the scenario provided, what is the total amount of loans made by Thirdbank?

    <p>$512 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the difference between banks and other financial institutions?

    <p>Banks are the only institutions that can create money. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main outcome of fractional-reserve banking as mentioned in the content?

    <p>It increases the economy's liquidity without creating real wealth. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of money in a modern economy?

    <p>To facilitate trade among multiple parties (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes fiat money from commodity money?

    <p>Fiat money is accepted by government decree, unlike commodity money (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of commodity money?

    <p>Cigarettes in a POW camp (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What economic situation led to the use of cigarettes as currency in POW camps?

    <p>Inefficiency of ration allocation and the need for trade (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of the POW camp economy, what does 'double coincidence of wants' refer to?

    <p>Both parties must want the items being exchanged (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which time period was the gold standard most common throughout the world?

    <p>Late nineteenth century (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What essential characteristic does fiat money lack compared to commodity money?

    <p>Value in industry and trade (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the structure of transactions in modern economies mainly differ from barter systems?

    <p>Modern economies use a universal medium of exchange (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to a bank's capital if its assets decrease in value by more than 5 percent?

    <p>The bank becomes insolvent. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do regulators require banks to hold sufficient capital?

    <p>To ensure the bank can pay off its depositors and creditors. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the type of assets a bank holds affect its capital requirements?

    <p>Riskier assets require more capital. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What consequence can arise from a fear of bank capital running out?

    <p>Bank runs may occur. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant impact of the financial crisis of 2008–2009 on banks?

    <p>Many banks became insolvent due to large losses. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does a dollar added to the economy by the Federal Reserve have if held as currency?

    <p>It increases the money supply by exactly one dollar. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do losses to bank capital compare to losses to bank assets due to leverage?

    <p>Losses to bank capital are proportionately larger than losses to bank assets. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the leverage ratio in banking?

    <p>It describes the proportion of assets that can be financed with equity. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does an increase in the interest rate on reserves have on the reserve–deposit ratio?

    <p>It increases the reserve–deposit ratio. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which policy involves the Federal Reserve buying long-term government bonds?

    <p>Quantitative easing (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which years did the monetary base experience a significant increase approximately five-fold?

    <p>2007 to 2014 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the initial steps taken by the Fed during the financial crisis?

    <p>Buying large quantities of mortgage-backed securities (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major consequence of the substantial expansion in the monetary base from 2007 to 2014?

    <p>There was a large decline in the money multiplier. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Federal Reserve as a lender of last resort during financial crises?

    <p>To lend money to banks in distress. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an expected behavior of banks when the interest rate on reserves is increased?

    <p>They will choose to hold more reserves. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the phenomenon where the monetary base increased significantly without a comparable increase in M1 and M2?

    <p>Disparity in money supply (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Fiat Money

    Money that has value solely because the government says it does.

    Commodity Money

    Money that has value because it is made from a valuable commodity, like gold.

    Gold Standard

    A system where the value of money is directly tied to the value of gold.

    Barter

    The direct exchange of goods without using money.

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    Double Coincidence of Wants

    A situation where both parties involved in a trade have what the other wants.

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    Inconveniences of Barter

    The difficulties of coordinating trade when there is no common medium of exchange.

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    Currency

    The goods or services that are widely accepted as payment for transactions.

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    Prisoner of War Camp Economy

    An economic system that relies on informal trade and exchange, often seen in situations like prisoner of war camps.

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    Reserve-deposit ratio (rr)

    The percentage of deposits that banks are required to hold in reserve.

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    Money creation

    The process by which banks create money by lending out a portion of their deposits.

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    Money multiplier

    The amount of money that an initial deposit can generate through the process of money creation.

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    How banks create money

    The ability of banks to create new money by lending out deposits.

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    Financial intermediation

    The process of transferring funds from lenders to borrowers for investment.

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    Bank capital

    The value of a bank's assets minus its liabilities.

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    Leverage

    The ratio of a bank's assets to its capital.

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    Capital requirements

    Regulations that require banks to hold a certain amount of capital as a percentage of their assets.

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    Monetary policy

    A system where the government has the sole right to print and control the amount of money circulating in the economy.

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    Social convention money

    A type of money that doesn't derive its value from any intrinsic qualities, but rather from its acceptance in trading.

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    Bitcoin

    A cryptocurrency with no intrinsic value, meaning it's not backed by a physical commodity or government decree. Its value hinges on people's acceptance of it as a valid means of exchange.

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    Money supply

    The total amount of money circulating in an economy.

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    Central bank

    An institution that controls the money supply and sets interest rates within a country.

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    Volatility

    The fluctuating price of a specific asset over a short period of time.

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    Risk of an asset

    The risk that a specific asset might lose value.

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    Demand Deposits

    Funds held in checking accounts, easily accessible and used for transactions, making them part of the money supply.

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    M1

    A measure of the money supply that includes currency, demand deposits, traveler's checks, and other checkable deposits.

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    M2

    A broader measure of the money supply that includes M1 plus retail money market mutual funds, savings deposits (including money market deposit accounts), and small time deposits.

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    Liquidity

    Assets that can be easily used for transactions, like checking accounts or savings accounts, are considered part of the money supply.

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    Money Market Mutual Funds

    A type of mutual fund that allows investors to write checks against their accounts, although restrictions may apply.

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    Federal Reserve's Role in Money Supply

    The Federal Reserve Bank calculates and publishes multiple measures of the money supply, including M1 and M2, for economic analysis and policymaking.

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    Credit Cards and Money Supply

    Credit cards are not considered part of the money supply because they represent a loan, not a medium of exchange.

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    Leverage Ratio

    The proportion of a bank's assets financed by its owners' equity.

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    Bank Insolvency

    The situation where a bank's assets are worth less than its liabilities, resulting in negative equity.

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    Bank Run

    A sudden and widespread withdrawal of deposits from a bank, often driven by fear of bank failure.

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    Model of the Money Supply

    A simplified model used to understand how changes in the money supply affect the total amount of money in an economy.

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    Adding money to the economy

    The action of a central bank injecting money into the economy, directly impacting the money supply. It's a tool used to stimulate economic activity.

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    Interest on Reserves

    The interest rate paid by the Federal Reserve to banks on their reserves held at the Fed.

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    Quantitative Easing (QE)

    A policy by the Federal Reserve to purchase long-term government bonds to keep their prices up and long-term interest rates down.

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    Monetary Base

    The total amount of currency in circulation and commercial banks' reserves held at the Fed.

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    Reserve-Deposit Ratio

    The ratio of reserves held by banks to their deposits.

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    Expanding Monetary Base, Declining Money Multiplier

    A situation where the monetary base expands significantly, but the money supply grows at a slower rate.

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    Lender of Last Resort

    The Fed's role as the lender of last resort, providing liquidity to financial institutions in times of crisis.

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    Open Market Operations

    The purchase and sale of government securities by the Federal Reserve to influence the money supply.

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    Study Notes

    Monetary System

    • Macroeconomic policy has two main branches: monetary and fiscal policy
    • Fiscal policy involves government decisions on spending and taxes
    • Monetary policy concerns the nation's system of money, currency, and banking
    • Monetary policy is usually implemented by central banks which operate independently, such as the Federal Reserve in the U.S.

    What is Money?

    • Money is a specific type of wealth, used for transactions
    • Money performs three key functions:
      • Store of value: Transferring purchasing power from the present to the future
      • Unit of account: Terms used for quoting prices and recording debts
      • Medium of exchange: Used to buy goods and services
    • Fiat money has no intrinsic value, established by government decree, commonly used today
    • Commodity money has intrinsic value, such as gold

    Types of Money

    • Fiat money lacks intrinsic value but is widely accepted as a means of exchange
    • Commodity money has inherent worth, often used as an early stage of currency

    Money in a POW Camp

    • Barter, the exchange of goods or services directly, was inefficient
    • Cigarettes became a readily usable form of currency, store of value, and medium of exchange in a POW camp scenario

    Development of Fiat Money

    • Commodity money (gold) is valuable because of its intrinsic worth
    • Transaction costs are higher when people use commodity money
    • Governments create gold coins to facilitate transactions, reducing transaction costs
    • Gold certificates (paper) are introduced, increasing transaction efficiency
    • Fiat money (paper) is eventually accepted by people as store of value and medium of exchange, dispensing the need for gold

    The Role of Banks

    • 100% Reserve Banking: Banks keep all deposited funds in reserve for withdrawal
    • Fractional Reserve Banking: Banks lend out a portion of deposited funds, increasing the money supply
    • Leverage: Banks use borrowed money to make investments in excess of their own capital
    • Capital requirements: Regulators set the minimum amount of capital a bank must hold, related to the types of assets that bank holds.

    How the Quantity of Money is Measured

    • Measured as currency (cash) and demand deposits (checking account balances)
    • Other assets that are easily convertible to currency (e.g., deposits in savings accounts and money market funds) can be included, depending on the definition of the money supply

    How Central Banks Influence the Money Supply

    • The monetary base is the sum of currency in circulation and bank reserves (directly controlled by the Federal Reserve)
    • Reserve-deposit ratio (rr): Fraction of deposits banks hold in reserve
    • Currency-deposit ratio (cr): Fraction of money people hold as currency
    • Money multiplier (m): Effect of monetary base on money supply (m = (cr + 1)/(cr + rr)
    • Open market operations: Buying or selling government bonds to increase or decrease the monetary base, influencing money supply

    Instruments of Monetary Policy

    • Open market operations: Fed buys/sells government bonds, influencing the monetary base
    • Reserve requirements: Minimum fraction of deposits that banks must hold in reserve, impacting the money multiplier
    • Discount rate: Interest rate the Fed charges banks for borrowing reserves, influencing borrowing behavior

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    Description

    This quiz covers the fundamentals of the monetary system, including the roles of monetary and fiscal policy. Understand the different types of money, such as fiat and commodity money, and their functions in the economy. Test your knowledge on how central banks operate and the significance of money in transactions.

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