assignment on banking

Introduction to Money and Banking

Chapter objectives.

In this chapter, you will learn about:

• Defining Money by Its Functions
• Measuring Money: Currency, M1, and M2
• The Role of Banks
• How Banks Create Money

Bring It Home

The many disguises of money: from cowries to crypto.

Here is a trivia question: In the history of the world, what item did people use for money over the broadest geographic area and for the longest period of time? The answer is not gold, silver, or any precious metal. It is the cowrie, a mollusk shell found mainly off the Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean. Cowries served as money as early as 700 B.C. in China. By the 1500s, they were in widespread use across India and Africa. For several centuries after that, cowries were the means for exchange in markets including southern Europe, western Africa, India, and China: everything from buying lunch or a ferry ride to paying for a shipload of silk or rice. Cowries were still acceptable as a way of paying taxes in certain African nations in the early twentieth century.

What made cowries work so well as money? First, they are extremely durable—lasting a century or more. As the late economic historian Karl Polyani put it, they can be “poured, sacked, shoveled, hoarded in heaps” while remaining “clean, dainty, stainless, polished, and milk-white.” Second, parties could use cowries either by counting shells of a certain size, or—for large purchases—by measuring the weight or volume of the total shells they would exchange. Third, it was impossible to counterfeit a cowrie shell, but dishonest people could counterfeit gold or silver coins by making copies with cheaper metals. Finally, in the heyday of cowrie money, from the 1500s into the 1800s, governments, first the Portuguese, then the Dutch and English, tightly controlled collecting cowries. As a result, the supply of cowries grew quickly enough to serve the needs of commerce, but not so quickly that they were no longer scarce. Money throughout the ages has taken many different forms and continues to evolve even today with the advent of cryptocurrency. What do you think money is?

The discussion of money and banking is a central component in studying macroeconomics. At this point, you should have firmly in mind the main goals of macroeconomics from Welcome to Economics! : economic growth , low unemployment , and low inflation . We have yet to discuss money and its role in helping to achieve our macroeconomic goals.

You should also understand Keynesian and neoclassical frameworks for macroeconomic analysis and how we can embody these frameworks in the aggregate demand/aggregate supply (AD/AS) model. With the goals and frameworks for macroeconomic analysis in mind, the final step is to discuss the two main categories of macroeconomic policy: monetary policy, which focuses on money, banking and interest rates; and fiscal policy, which focuses on government spending, taxes, and borrowing. This chapter discusses what economists mean by money, and how money is closely interrelated with the banking system. Monetary Policy and Bank Regulation furthers this discussion.

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Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/principles-economics-3e/pages/1-introduction

• Authors: Steven A. Greenlaw, David Shapiro, Daniel MacDonald
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Principles of Economics 3e
• Publication date: Dec 14, 2022
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/principles-economics-3e/pages/1-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/principles-economics-3e/pages/27-introduction-to-money-and-banking

© Jan 23, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

Banking, Bank Accounts, and Earning Interest Lessons

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Welcome to our Savings and Banking section, where you can find a variety of educational resources to help you master the fundamentals of bank savings accounts and interest rates. Our lesson plans, worksheets, exercises, and activities are designed to teach learners of all levels about savings, banks, bank accounts, and interest rates. These resources are customizable and can be used in a classroom setting or for independent study. In addition, our online bank simulator provides a dynamic way to learn about modern online banking and ATM usage. The simulator features interactive exercises that allow you to practice transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and more. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced saver looking to enhance your knowledge, our Savings and Banking section has everything you need to manage your finances with confidence. So, start exploring our resources today and take the first step towards financial literacy. See below for Lessons and Worksheets

Savings accounts overview.

When saving your money, you will be placing money in many different types of savings instruments, including very safe and stable investments vehicles. This is especially true for money that you are going to need in the short-term (as compared to long-term investments, such as buying a house). This category includes bank savings accounts and money market mutual funds, some of the safest short term investments. When placing your money with a bank or money market fund, you earn interest, or yield, which fluctuates, depending on general rates of interest.

TYPES OF SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Bank Savings Accounts When you are beginning to save, you should place your money in investments that are as safe as possible. In addition, you will likely always have at least some of your money in short-term investments. Bank savings accounts are such an investment. The federal government backs these accounts with what is known as Federal Deposit insurance Corporation (FDIC) Insurance.

Money Market Account These are accounts offered by banks. However, in these accounts the bank typically pays you a higher rate of interest than a savings account.

CD or Certificate of Deposit The bank holds your money for a set period of time. Usually one to six months, or one to five years. Unlike a normal savings account, you may not withdraw your money at any time. If you do, you will be subject to withdrawal fees.

Money Market Funds Similar to bank savings accounts are money market funds. Money market accounts are available from mutual fund companies. They are similar, but you usually get a better return with money market funds. Also, since these funds are not held with a bank, they are not FDIC insured. However, they are invested in very short-term bonds, which tend to be less risky than longer-term bonds and invest in safe government investments, corporate commercial paper, and other related investments. In addition, they are regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission. Money market mutual funds that invest exclusively in U.S. government securities have very little risk, while giving you better rates of return then typical bank savings accounts.

Lessons and Worksheets

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