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- From: jfh@beach.cis.ufl.edu (James F. Hranicky)
- Newsgroups: sci.econ
- Subject: Re: GM Plant Closures Again? Won't Solve the Economic Problems
- Message-ID: <38019@uflorida.cis.ufl.edu>
- Date: 23 Dec 92 16:11:31 GMT
- References: <BzEqMA.D9z@apollo.hp.com> <BzEzv6.HHA@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> <JACKSON.92Dec17154850@kaos.stsci.edu>
- Sender: news@uflorida.cis.ufl.edu
- Organization: Univ. of Florida CIS Dept.
- Lines: 29
- Nntp-Posting-Host: beach.cis.ufl.edu
-
- In article <JACKSON.92Dec17154850@kaos.stsci.edu> jackson@stsci.edu writes:
- >A naive question.
- >
- >If INFLATION is defined at the overall price level rising
- >Then how can that occur without an increase in the money supply?
-
- The general rise in prices of all goods and services is indeed the
- result of increasing the money supply. The increase in the money
- supply was the original definiton of inflation, and the current definition
- is misleading. A rise in prices in one area means that either supply
- has dwindled or demand increased, i.e., that good has become more dear
- to more people. A general rise in prices of all goods does not signify
- this at all, it signifies that the unit of currency is LOSING VALUE.
-
- >For prices to go up, then incomes must go up in order to pay
- >for the higher prices.
- >
- >In these scenarios, how does everyone's income increase in real term?
-
- It does not. Money is merely a medium of exchange for goods and services.
- If the money supply were doubled tomorrow, there would still be the
- same amount of goods and services in the economy. The idea that printing
- money adds wealth is crap. In fact, this lead to consumption of capital,
- and capital accumulation is the *true* source of wealth, i.e., as the
- supply of goods and services rises, the prices fall. (Simple S&D stuff)
-
- If only our politicians would realize this. HA!
-
- Jim Hranicky (jfh@reef.cis.ufl.edu)
-