Skip to main content
SWStudyWalks Search

Principles of Macroeconomics / Unit 11   MAC 1004 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Commodity, Commodity-Backed and Fiat Money

Captions available

The idea

Commodity money has other uses, such as gold or silver. Commodity-backed currency is redeemable for such a thing. Fiat money has no intrinsic value and is money by declaration and acceptance.

In practice

A dollar bill calls itself legal tender for all debts, public and private.

Where people slip

Fiat money works on confidence. Cryptocurrency is not central-bank issued, so not fiat.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it  ·  Sources for Principles of Macroeconomics