Robert Murphy defines some of the conventional “monetary aggregates,” such as M1 and M2, and gives the textbook rundown of how the Federal Reserve and commercial banking system “create money” when the Fed buys assets and the commercial banks extend new loans.
These days, the commercial banking system isn’t where the action is. Instead, it’s the shadow banking system that needs direct feeding to goose inflation—at least inflation in asset prices, and also to keep the debt service on the nation’s debt as low as possible.
The Fed's balance sheet has risen to $4.1 trillion from $3.7 trillion in August. Nomi Prins discusses what this policy shift means and what it portends for 2020.
Why do we have money in the first place? Where does it come from, and what determines its form? What qualities make for a good money? What role do banks play—is it something other than what money itself does for us?
Why do we have money in the first place? Where does it come from, and what determines its form? What qualities make for a good money? What role do banks play—is it something other than what money itself does for us?
During December 2019, year-over-year growth in the money supply was at 5.53 percent. That's down from November's rate of 5.9 percent, but was up from December 2018's rate of 3.90 percent.
Economist Robert Murphy lays out the purpose and structure of his upcoming book Understanding Money Mechanics, a guide to the Federal Reserve System that is a must-read for laymen.
The original justification for the creation of another central bank did not allude to the modern goals of “full employment” and “price stability.” Rather, the pleas of the time called for an “elastic currency” that would expand or contract according to the “needs of trade.”
The original justification for the creation of another central bank did not allude to the modern goals of “full employment” and “price stability.” Rather, the pleas of the time called for an “elastic currency” that would expand or contract according to the “needs of trade.”
The Understanding Money Mechanics series by Robert P. Murphy, is a comprehensive overview of the theory, history, and practice of money and banking, with a focus on the United States.
