Money
In certain historical moments, like the current financial crisis, one can question the value of money and economic system in general. This is not new and has happened in many eras and countries since the invention of coins. The other day, a friend of mine (Ivan, I owe you a Brave) sent me an interesting excerpt from the book "The Money" by John Kenneth Galbraith, it says the use of cigarettes as currency in postwar Germany. This is the text interesting.
As the disabled were largely as a medium of exchange in Germany after 1945 began, as always, to use substitutes. More specifically, there was a return to one of the classics of yesteryear currencies, namely the snuff. This could be taken now in a very superior. Instead of the road passing torpemente hand in hand, or sometimes suspect's certificate store, was the newly coined and standardized cigarette. It was the equivalent, in all aspects, from a reputable currency. The loose cigarettes and small change was an excellent package of twenty cigarettes or carton of two hundred multiples were appropriate for larger transactions. The decimal form was changed, but not to the point of presenting math problems.
Few forms of money have been more difficult to forge. And none had as great a tendency to self-value. If the value in exchange for cigarettes tended to go down, that is, if the offer was too big and the price of products exchanged for cigarettes was too high, the owner of this currency fumársela might prefer to put it into circulation. This would have the effect of reducing supply and sustaining value. There were some abuses by collecting cigarette butts and "recycled" in new coins of lesser value. In 1946, in the toilet of the office of General Lucius Clay and other senior U.S. military officials had a sign in German: "Do not throw cigarette butts in the sink." One soldier, who had observed the diligence with which they were wanted for "Recycling", he added at the foot of the sign this explanation: "It is difficult to moisten and smoking." However, this could easily recognizable currency lower and was only accepted with an appropriate discount. The instinct of the early American settlers, in the sense that the snuff was an admirable way of contrast, was strongly confirmed by the experience of the Germans after WWII.
As you can see, this secondary market of the money was governed by the same laws as the official currency markets, with the ubiquitous law of supply and demand and even with changes in the exchange rate due to variations in liquidity (or if there were many few cigarettes).
Looking for information on the book curiously I meet another friend of mine what another says in his blog, reaching these conclusions on the money of which you do a summary.
- It is clear that the task of governing the money attracts a very low level of talent.
- The disability is protected by the fact that almost never blamed the failure of those responsible for it.
- As in diplomacy, a conformist, a good tailor and the ability to articulate the topic of financial fashion, has contributed more to hit a mentality that overly inquisitive.
- In the government's money, as in the economic direction in general, failure is often a more profitable strategy that personal success.
- There should be at all economic and monetary issues, a rule that anyone who has to explain its failure has failed, we must be benevolent with those who have had a poor performance but did not reach as far as to keep them in office.
- No economic policy which only offered a choice between inflation and depression can be very satisfactory.
- Those who crave the death of capitalism should pray for it to be ruled by men educated in the belief that any positive action is the enemy of what they call basic principles of free enterprise.
Both interesting conclusions as the use of an asset as peculiar as a substitute for official money. It's what happens when you completely lose confidence in the monetary system, especially in times of hyperinflation as happened in Germany after the Second World War and now in Zimbabwe (which has an inflation rate of 231 million per cent a year).
Fortunately, however pesismistas that we should not look or in a similar situation but it is worth knowing something of economic history.
So after this article, that somehow I have written two friends, I get to work to collect the day's news.
- Unemployment is at its highest level in 12 years increased by 7% in October
- The news yesterday: The unemployed may defer 50% of the mortgage payment
- Measures against unemployment by 170 million
- Another threat? Of the vertigo of the crisis to the possibility of deflation
- Recessions are preceded by the worst banking crises: the valuations are still too high
- Two of market anomalies: the gold business profits and hide the deflationary risk
- Austria purchase of two euros the eighth bank in the country
- After the dismal data on car sales: Market falls on October motorcycle 25.1% and 45.8% of the moped
- Infojobs recorded in October, a decline of 20% in job vacancies in Spain
- Earns 158,000 euros by betting on Hamilton 10 years ago
Written by Carlos Lopez on November 4, 2008 with 260 points.
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# 1, Prudencio
Confiaza crisis.
Speaking the other day with a friend on diferenzas / similarities of this crisis with the previous ones, that made me a more interesting observation, "said Prudencio-me-we are selling this crisis is a matter of trust interbank. It is not true. This crisis is different because people no longer trust nor the companies themselves for which they work ... Whatever the industry. The bank is one more. "
Interesting opinion. ¿Ingenious? To taste the colors were, but I also think so.
And stretching the scope of this observation we have the same crisis of confidence in the great enterprise that is the government.
And as it turns out that if vams to trust when it comes to defending the interests of the citizens there are only 42 deputies in the chamber!
To this, apart from confidence crisis, should be called crisis of dignity.
And at 10 o'clock in the morning and half remained the same 42. This is how you defend my interests in the congress.
To this, apart from crisis of confidence and dignity, should be called crisis of shame.
And I feel that the shame of others is me ... and confirm my support for the crisis of confidence ... because the House (all, government and opposition) is a sovereign matter over which cock will publish its nefarious attitude. Anyway ... while the official car I do not have footrests passing of € 400,000, what should go to Congress? ... Uf, what laziness! But if this is the most pure communism ... as the political will corbrar anyway!
And fools of us, we have paid, pay and pay to the mob that does not appear to 10:30.
I think if you put them on the streets of patuitas feel in their meat and the rigors of unemployment ... in a somewhat pondrín more of such interest.
That do not have with me.