In: Economics
Money is often used to purchase item in society, but bartering was common in the past. Bartering is the trading of one good or service for another good or service.
Explain your experiences with bartering. List at least 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage to bartering.
Most developed countries in the world use flat money. This means that their money is not backed by gold or silver. The value is related to only the faith in the country that backs it. The US has used flat money since the 1970s.
Why do you think most developed countries use flat money? Would it be practical to switch back to a commodity (like gold or silver) backed money system? Why or why not?
Use at least two of the following terms in your answer: Asset
Flat Money
Store of value
Unit of account
Medium of exchange
Experience with Barter Trade: Although it is not a trade specific example. This is what I experienced few days back when I was having 4 chocolate with me and my brother has 3 cups of ice cream. So, he wanted to have one chocolate and I wanted one cup of ice cream. So, I simply exchanged one chocolate in exchange of one ice cream cup.
Advantage of Barter Trade:
Disadvantages of Barter Trade:
Fiat money is the paper money which is inconvertible and legal tender by the government.
Most of the nations uses Fiat money because of its following advantages:
No, it would not be practical to switch back to a commodity (like gold or silver) backed money system because the problem with gold standard was that the size and health of the economy was dependent on the supply of gold in the country. A country without any gold is at competitive disadvantage.
Also, it is very difficult to carry the gold and store it because it is a very precious metal.