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ECON 105

How do banks create money?

Explore money’s roles, bank balance sheets, lending rounds and the central bank’s effect on the money supply. Then solve ten questions about reserves, multipliers and bank protections.

What money does · Step 1 of 12

One asset can do three jobs

ActionMoney’s job
Pay $12 for breadMedium of exchange
Save $12 for laterStore of value
Compare 3 loaves at $4 eachUnit of account
Selected role: Medium of exchange
In fictional Northland, money is an asset people can easily use to buy goods and services. It is a medium of exchange when paying, a store of value when saving for later, and a unit of account when quoting prices. A store of value need not keep its purchasing power unchanged.
Try it: Choose a role, then change the number of loaves priced at $4 each.
Role to inspect
Loaves of bread3
Bread price
$4
Total cost
$12
Total cost = price × quantity.
$4 × (3) = $12.
Medium of exchange: the payment settles a purchase.
Check yourself
A shop lists both bread and milk prices in dollars. Which role is this?

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