💵Principles of Macroeconomics Unit 14 – Money and Banking

What's Money Anyway?

• Money serves as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value
• Fiat money is currency backed by the government that issued it, not linked to physical commodities (U.S. dollars)
• Commodity money has intrinsic value and can be used as a medium of exchange (gold coins)
  • Historically, items like cowrie shells, beads, and tobacco have been used as commodity money
• Money supply is the total amount of money in circulation within an economy
  • Consists of currency, coins, and checking account deposits
• Liquidity refers to how easily an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its market price
  • Cash is the most liquid asset, while real estate is less liquid
• Money facilitates trade by eliminating the need for direct barter between parties
• Governments and central banks control the money supply through various tools and policies (open market operations)

Banking Basics: More Than Just Vaults

• Banks are financial institutions that accept deposits and provide loans to individuals and businesses
• Fractional reserve banking allows banks to hold a portion of deposits as reserves and lend out the rest
  • This practice enables banks to create money through the process of lending
• Bank reserves are the amount of cash banks must hold to meet withdrawal demands and regulatory requirements
• Banks generate revenue primarily through the interest earned on loans and investments
• Checking accounts allow customers to easily access funds for transactions and payments
• Savings accounts typically offer higher interest rates but may have withdrawal limitations
• Banks also offer services such as credit cards, mortgages, and financial advisory services
• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures bank deposits up to $250,000 per account

Central Banks: The Big Dogs of Finance

• Central banks are institutions responsible for overseeing a nation's monetary policy and financial stability
• The Federal Reserve System (Fed) is the central bank of the United States
  • Consists of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks and the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.
• Central banks conduct monetary policy to manage the money supply, interest rates, and inflation
• Open market operations involve buying and selling government securities to influence the money supply
• Central banks act as lenders of last resort, providing liquidity to banks during financial crises
• The Fed sets the federal funds rate, which influences short-term interest rates throughout the economy
• Central banks also regulate and supervise the banking system to ensure stability and prevent systemic risks
• The European Central Bank (ECB) oversees monetary policy for the Eurozone countries

How Money Moves: Monetary Policy in Action

• Monetary policy refers to the actions central banks take to manage the money supply and interest rates
• Expansionary monetary policy aims to stimulate economic growth by increasing the money supply and lowering interest rates
  • Achieved through open market purchases of government securities and lowering the federal funds rate
• Contractionary monetary policy seeks to slow down economic growth and control inflation by reducing the money supply and raising interest rates
  • Implemented through open market sales of government securities and increasing the federal funds rate
• The money multiplier effect amplifies the impact of changes in the money supply through the banking system
• Transmission mechanisms, such as the interest rate channel and credit channel, help propagate monetary policy effects throughout the economy
• The Fed's dual mandate is to promote maximum employment and price stability
• Quantitative easing (QE) is an unconventional monetary policy tool used to stimulate the economy by purchasing long-term securities
• Forward guidance is a communication strategy central banks use to manage expectations about future monetary policy actions

Interest Rates: The Price of Borrowing

• Interest rates represent the cost of borrowing money or the return on lending money
• Nominal interest rates are the stated rates on loans or deposits, while real interest rates account for inflation
  • Real interest rate = Nominal interest rate - Inflation rate
• The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which banks lend excess reserves to each other overnight
• The prime rate is the interest rate banks charge their most creditworthy customers, often used as a benchmark for other loans
• Yield curves depict the relationship between interest rates and the maturity of debt securities
  • A normal yield curve slopes upward, indicating higher interest rates for longer-term securities
  • An inverted yield curve slopes downward, suggesting economic uncertainty or a potential recession
• Interest rates influence borrowing and saving decisions by households and businesses
• Higher interest rates encourage saving and discourage borrowing, while lower interest rates have the opposite effect
• Central banks use interest rates as a key tool to implement monetary policy and manage economic growth

Financial Markets: Where Money Does Its Thing

• Financial markets are platforms where buyers and sellers trade financial assets, such as stocks, bonds, and currencies
• Capital markets facilitate the raising of long-term funds through the issuance and trading of securities (stocks and bonds)
• Stock markets enable companies to raise equity capital by selling shares to investors
  • The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ are prominent stock exchanges in the United States
• Bond markets allow governments and corporations to borrow money by issuing debt securities
  • U.S. Treasury bonds are considered one of the safest investments due to the government's creditworthiness
• Money markets involve the trading of short-term, highly liquid debt instruments (Treasury bills and commercial paper)
• Foreign exchange markets facilitate the buying and selling of currencies, enabling international trade and investment
• Derivative markets trade financial instruments whose value is derived from underlying assets (options and futures contracts)
• Financial markets promote efficient allocation of capital, price discovery, and risk management

Credit and Debt: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

• Credit refers to the ability to borrow money with the promise to repay it in the future, often with interest
• Debt is the obligation to repay borrowed funds, such as loans or bonds
• Consumer credit includes credit cards, personal loans, and auto loans, which allow individuals to purchase goods and services on credit
• Mortgages are long-term loans used to purchase real estate, with the property serving as collateral
• Corporate debt is issued by companies to finance operations, expand, or invest in new projects (corporate bonds)
• Government debt is issued by national and local governments to fund public expenditures and budget deficits (government bonds)
  • The U.S. national debt is the total outstanding borrowing by the federal government
• Creditworthiness is an assessment of an individual's or entity's ability to repay debt obligations
  • Credit scores, such as FICO scores, are used to evaluate creditworthiness based on credit history and financial behavior
• Excessive debt can lead to financial distress, default, and bankruptcy for individuals and organizations
• Responsible credit management involves borrowing within one's means and making timely payments to maintain a good credit standing

Money in the Real World: Economic Impact

• Money and monetary policy have significant impacts on various aspects of the economy
• Inflation occurs when the general price level of goods and services increases over time
  • Measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index
• Deflation is a decrease in the general price level, which can be detrimental to economic growth
• Hyperinflation is an extremely rapid increase in prices, often leading to a breakdown in the monetary system (Venezuela)
• Changes in the money supply and interest rates affect consumer spending, business investment, and overall economic activity
• Monetary policy can be used to smooth out economic fluctuations and mitigate the impact of recessions
• The velocity of money measures how quickly money circulates through the economy, influencing economic growth
• Exchange rates impact international trade, as they determine the relative value of currencies
  • A strong currency makes exports more expensive and imports cheaper, while a weak currency has the opposite effect
• Monetary policy decisions can have distributional effects, impacting different segments of the population differently (savers vs. borrowers)
• Central banks must consider the trade-offs between short-term economic stimulus and long-term price stability when conducting monetary policy