In contrast to commodity-based money, such as gold coins or paper bills redeemable for precious metals, fiat money is backed entirely by the full faith and trust in the government that issued it. One reason this has merit is that governments demand that you pay taxes in the fiat money it issues. Since everybody needs to pay taxes, or else face stiff penalties or prison, people will accept it in exchange (this is known as chartalism).Other theories of money, such as the credit theory, suggest that since all money is a credit-debt relation, it does not matter if money is backed by anything to maintain value."}},"@type": "Question","name": "Why Do Modern Economies Favor Fiat Money?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Prior to the 20th century, most countries utilized some sort of gold standard or backing by a commodity. As international trade and finance grew in scale and scope; however, the limited amount of gold coming out of mines and in central bank vaults could not keep up with the new value that was being created, causing serious disruptions to global markets and commerce.Fiat money gives governments greater flexibility to manage their own currency, set monetary policy, and stabilize global markets. It also allows for fractional reserve banking, which lets commercial banks multiply the amount of money on hand to meet demand from borrowers.","@type": "Question","name": "What Are Some Alternatives to Fiat Money?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Virtually every country today has legal tender that is fiat money. While you can buy and sell gold and gold coins, these are rarely used in exchange or for everyday purchases and tend to be more of a collectible or speculative asset.Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, emerged over the past decade as a challenge to the inflationary nature of fiat currencies, but despite increased interest and adoption, these virtual assets do not seem to approach being "money" in the traditional sense.","@type": "Question","name": "Does Fiat Money Lead to Hyperinflation?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "There is always the possibility of hyperinflation when a country prints its own currency. However, most developed countries have experienced only moderate bouts of inflation. In fact, having some consistent, low level of inflation is seen as a positive driver of economic growth and investment, as it encourages people to put their money to work rather than have it sit idle and lose purchasing power over time.Having a relatively strong and stable currency is not only a mandate of most modern central banks, but a rapidly devalued currency is harmful to trade and obtaining financing.Moreover, it is unclear whether or not hyperinflation is caused by "runaway printing" of money. In fact, hyperinflation has occurred throughout history, even when money was based on precious metals; and all contemporary hyperinflation has begun with a fundamental breakdown in the real production economy and/or political instability in the country."]}]}] Investing Stocks Bonds ETFs Options and Derivatives Commodities Trading FinTech and Automated Investing Brokers Fundamental Analysis Technical Analysis Markets View All Simulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard Banking Savings Accounts Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Money Market Accounts Checking Accounts View All Personal Finance Budgeting and Saving Personal Loans Insurance Mortgages Credit and Debt Student Loans Taxes Credit Cards Financial Literacy Retirement View All News Markets Companies Earnings CD Rates Mortgage Rates Economy Government Crypto ETFs Personal Finance View All Reviews Best Online Brokers Best Savings Rates Best CD Rates Best Life Insurance Best Personal Loans Best Mortgage Rates Best Money Market Accounts Best Auto Loan Rates Best Credit Repair Companies Best Credit Cards View All Academy Investing for Beginners Trading for Beginners Become a Day Trader Technical Analysis All Investing Courses All Trading Courses View All LiveSearchSearchPlease fill out this field.SearchSearchPlease fill out this field.InvestingInvesting Stocks Bonds ETFs Options and Derivatives Commodities Trading FinTech and Automated Investing Brokers Fundamental Analysis Technical Analysis Markets View All SimulatorSimulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard BankingBanking Savings Accounts Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Money Market Accounts Checking Accounts View All Personal FinancePersonal Finance Budgeting and Saving Personal Loans Insurance Mortgages Credit and Debt Student Loans Taxes Credit Cards Financial Literacy Retirement View All NewsNews Markets Companies Earnings CD Rates Mortgage Rates Economy Government Crypto ETFs Personal Finance View All ReviewsReviews Best Online Brokers Best Savings Rates Best CD Rates Best Life Insurance Best Personal Loans Best Mortgage Rates Best Money Market Accounts Best Auto Loan Rates Best Credit Repair Companies Best Credit Cards View All AcademyAcademy Investing for Beginners Trading for Beginners Become a Day Trader Technical Analysis All Investing Courses All Trading Courses View All EconomyEconomy Government and Policy Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy Economics View All Financial Terms Newsletter About Us Follow Us Table of ContentsExpandTable of ContentsWhat Is Fiat Money?Understanding Fiat MoneyHistory of Fiat Money in the U.S.Advantages and DisadvantagesExamples of Fiat MoneyFAQsThe Bottom LineEconomyEconomicsFiat Money: What It Is, How It Works, Example, Pros & ConsBy
In contrast to commodity-based money, such as gold coins or paper bills redeemable for precious metals, fiat money is backed entirely by the full faith and trust in the government that issued it. One reason this has merit is that governments demand that you pay taxes in the fiat money it issues. Since everybody needs to pay taxes, or else face stiff penalties or prison, people will accept it in exchange (this is known as chartalism).
Virtually every country today has legal tender that is fiat money. While you can buy and sell gold and gold coins, these are rarely used in exchange or for everyday purchases and tend to be more of a collectible or speculative asset.
Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, emerged over the past decade as a challenge to the inflationary nature of fiat currencies, but despite increased interest and adoption, these virtual assets do not seem to approach being "money" in the traditional sense.
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Fiat money is a currency that lacks intrinsic value and is established as a legal tender by government regulation. Traditionally, currencies were backed by physical commodities such as silver and gold, but fiat money is based on the creditworthiness of the issuing government.
The value of fiat money depends on supply and demand and was introduced as an alternative to commodity money and representative money. Commodity money is created from precious metals such as gold and silver, while representative money represents a claim on a commodity that can be redeemed.
China was the first country to use fiat currency, around 1000 AD, and the currency then spread to other countries in the world. It became popular in the 20th century when U.S. President Richard Nixon introduced a law that canceled, the direct convertibility of the U.S. dollar into gold. Currently, most nations use paper-based fiat currencies that only serve as a mode of payment.
Unlike the traditional commodity-backed currencies, fiat currency cannot be converted or redeemed. It is intrinsically valueless and used by government decree. For a fiat currency to be successful, the government must protect it against counterfeiting and manage the money supply responsibly.
The Bretton Woods Agreement fixed the value of one troy ounce of gold to 35 United States Dollars. However, in 1971, United States President, Richard Nixon, introduced a series of economic measures including canceling the direct convertibility of dollars into gold due to declining gold reserves. Since then, most countries have adopted fiat monies that are exchangeable between major currencies.
The most important feature of fiat money is the stability of its value, unlike commodity-based money like gold, copper, and silver. The use of fiat money became popular in the 20th century as governments and banks moved in to protect their economies from the frequent busts of the business cycle.
Although fiat money is viewed as a more stable currency that can cushion against recessions, the global financial crisis proved otherwise. Even though the Federal Reserve controls the money supply, it was not able to prevent the crisis from happening. Critics of fiat money argue that the limited supply of gold makes it a more stable currency than fiat money, which has an unlimited supply.
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