Joinder wrote:See the Bank of England video "creation of money in the modern economy"
I'll have to see if I can find that for review.
I assume, with the way you've presented it, that it represents the Bank Of England's perspective on the situation. Which obviously would not necessarily reflect actual reality or what happens in other non-UK Jurisdictions.
A clear personal example of what I understand others to be claiming as "money creation":
A couple years ago I helped one of my nieces with her post-secondary education both financially and providing her with a rent/utility/foodcosts-free place to live.
One of the things I did to help her was to use my credit to purchase her a laptop - vague recollection was that it was around the $1,500 price range. I didn't pay for it out of money I had available (obviously as it was credit). But it was indeed paid for. I was, also obviously, responsible for paying back the entity who provided me with the credit.
So here we have someone in need of financial help - my niece.
We have someone willing to help her who did not have money on hand - me.
We have a third party who is not part of the transaction who only has an interest in their relationship with me and the possible financial interest benefit they'd have if I borrowed their money - my creditor.
By all accounts from what I see being described as the limited relationship of the bank to the borrower - the direct relationship equivalent of me to my niece - I created money out of thin air to provide to my niece.
So... here's a very good question for those that believe the Bank - any bank - actually creates money out of thin air:
- The loan the Bank gives out, is it backed by one of:
- 2) Some form of assurance/insurance
- 3) Some form of credit provided by someone else such as another bank
- 4) Some form of liquid asset reserves to cover called-upon liabilities
- 5) Other equivalent, the current list should be sufficient to clearly identify the concept
If the answer to the question surrounding the list is Yes - then the Bank is not creating money out of thin air any more then I did when I borrowed money to buy my niece a laptop.
And if it's insisted that the Bank borrowing money, or covering their financial obligation in some other way, in any way can be philosophically referred to as "creating money" then I myself must also be referred to as having the ability to create money because I didn't do anything different.
And since I'm just a regular Joe with sufficient positive reputation that someone is willing to provide me credit - then it's also true any regular Joe that qualifies for credit can create money out of thin air.
Hmm.... side curiosity: what's the business phrase for a positive reputation that can lead to financial improvement? I seem to recall reading it on some financial reports and they actually put a monetary value to it.
Edited to add: the word I was looking for that they attach a monetary value to is "goodwill". It might actually have less to do with reputation then I originally thought. It's definitely a factor I do not understand as belonging on any kind of financial statement.