How central banks conjure money out of nothing

How central banks conjure money out of nothing

What actually happens when money is 'created' — the mechanics of central banking, reserves, and quantitative easing, and what really limits how much money can exist before it loses value.

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Show notes

Physical cash accounts for only three percent of the United Kingdom money supply.

Commercial banks create new money by typing digital entries into a borrower's account ledger.

Central bank reserves act as a specialized digital currency used only for interbank settlements.

Quantitative easing functions as a digital asset swap rather than the physical printing of money.

The Federal Reserve balance sheet expanded from eight hundred billion to six point five trillion dollars.

Inflation occurs when the total money supply grows faster than the production of goods and services.

In this episode
  1. 01Intro1 min
  2. 02The Myth of the Printing Press2 min
  3. 03The Central Bank Ledger and Reserves3 min
  4. 04Quantitative Easing: Conjuring at Scale3 min
  5. 05The Limits of Creation2 min
  6. 06Outro1 min
Sources
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