Question

Difficulty: MediumTypes and Supply of Money

Match each type or classification of money on the left with its corresponding economic definition or characteristic on the right.

  • Fiat MoneyMoney issued by government decree whose exchange value is independent of any physical commodity backing.
  • Commodity MoneyA medium of exchange whose value derives from the intrinsic worth of the physical item itself as a useful good.
  • Near MoneyHighly liquid financial assets that serve as a store of value and can be converted to cash easily, but cannot be spent directly for transactions.
  • Legal TenderAny form of money that a creditor is legally obligated to accept in discharge of a debt.

Answer

Fiat Money matches 'Money issued by government decree whose exchange value is independent of any physical commodity backing.'; Commodity Money matches 'A medium of exchange whose value derives from the intrinsic worth of the physical item itself as a useful good.'; Near Money matches 'Highly liquid financial assets that serve as a store of value and can be converted to cash easily, but cannot be spent directly for transactions.'; Legal Tender matches 'Any form of money that a creditor is legally obligated to accept in discharge of a debt.'
Each monetary classification corresponds directly to its functional, legal, or intrinsic property: Fiat Money relies on government decree; Commodity Money has intrinsic physical value; Near Money comprises highly liquid non-transactional assets; Legal Tender is legally enforced for debt discharge.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Fiat Money
Identified as money backed solely by government declaration rather than physical reserves.
Fiat money relies on trust in the issuing authority rather than intrinsic material value.
2
Analyze Commodity Money
Identified as money made from materials that possess intrinsic commodity value.
Items like gold coins or salt have alternative non-monetary uses.
3
Analyze Near Money
Identified as highly liquid assets that are not direct mediums of exchange.
Assets such as savings deposits must first be converted into cash or demand deposits to spend.
4
Analyze Legal Tender
Identified as currency backed by law for debt settlement.
By law, creditors cannot refuse legal tender as repayment for monetary liabilities.

Key Concept

Types and Characteristics of Money
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