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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Can Wealth Be Created Without Printing More Money?

It is a simple question with it seems very complex answers.

Many Libertarian and Conservative economic views hinge on the assumption that wealth can be created. It is said as one simple proof that since wealth can indeed be destroyed, that it can also be created. Here is one article on this viewpoint.

Many Socialist and Liberal economic views hinge on the assumption that wealth is a limited pie that cannot be made bigger. It is said that economics is a zero-sum game, when one gains wealth others must necessarily loose wealth. Here is one article on this viewpoint.


It is plain that land IS a limited resource. Natural resources are used up but new natural resources are also discovered however it is plain that over all time natural resources ARE limited simply because the earth is a physical thing and it does not make more of itself.

But other things of value are all around us that are created and destroyed. Value or wealth is added to the economy or created. However if we add value or create wealth we are essentially increasing the supply of value or valuable things and services. If those additions represent a net gain and if we hold the supply of money, cash etc., constant then it seems logical that the value of money would gradually decrease as the supply of valuable commodities increased unless we increase the supply of money with the supply of value.

Conversely if we simply increase the money supply without increasing the supply of value in the economy then we should see inflation and it should take more money to buy less such that money is worth less.

Therefore, IMHO wealth CANNOT be created without a corresponding creation of more money without causing deflation.

So to summarize,

If wealth is created by individuals or companies and therefore the total value of the economy is increased but the money supply is kept the same or decreased then you will have deflation, more things are competing for the same or less of an amount of currency.

If wealth is created by individuals or companies and therefore the total value of the economy is increased and the money supply is increased proportionally then you will have neither inflation nor deflation but more things and more money.

If wealth is held constant and the money supply is decreased then you will have deflation.

If wealth is held constant and the money supply is increased then you will have inflation.

If wealth is destroyed by individuals or companies and therefore the total value of the economy is decreased but the money supply is kept the same or increased then you will have inflation, less things are competing for the same or more of an amount of currency.

If wealth is destroyed by individuals or companies and therefore the total value of the economy is decreased and the money supply is decreased proportionally then you will have neither inflation nor deflation but less things and less money.

The question then is what is required to create wealth? Who has the means, abilities, initiative and opportunity to create wealth?

And who controls the money supply?

And do the answers to those questions equate to a "fair" system for all?

What are your thoughts?



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