How Much Money is in the World?
Money is the most essential commodity in any economic system. It translates to power, the capacity to make a choice and comfort. However, measuring the total money in the world may not be very easy.
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How much money is there in the world
When considering how much money is there in the world, we need to think about all types that currently exist. Money is in various forms from virtual - derivatives, cryptocurrencies, investments, and physical - notes and coins.
This makes it a real challenge to determine the exact total amount of money in the world.
Nonetheless, some reports give us a clue. Here, you will see what a few recent money reports gives as an answer to the question of how much money is in the world.
How Much Money is in the World?
According to a 2023 report, the total amount of money in the world is roughly $40 trillion in circulation.
That is narrow money. Narrow money, often represented as M0 is liquid assets; physical money and those in savings and checking accounts. This also includes deposits in money-market accounts - these are not physical money but can be used for digital transactions.
When you talk of ‘broad money,’ you should expect over $90.4 trillion as the total amount of money in the world.
According to Karen Petrou, one of the managers at Federal Financial Analytics, "most of the broad money in the world economy isn't actually cash held in bank vaults". "It's bank balances on digital ledgers, money that people deposited in banks, and banks then lent out again".
Broad money includes all narrow money plus less liquid money that serves as a medium of exchange.
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Money held in investments, cryptocurrencies and derivatives is over $1.3 quadrillion. Cryptocurrencies alone (all in circulation) exceed $2 trillion, while investment in commercial real estate is $30 trillion. These contribute to the total money in the world, although not a significant amount. Bitcoin, for instance, contributes less than 1% to the world’s money.
However, the total money in the form of investments, derivatives, and cryptocurrencies is greater than the total money in the stock market - around $95 trillion.
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Who Decides How Much Money is in the World?
The central bank of each country regulates the money supply chain in that country, so no one state decides how much money there is in the world. However, some key central banks like the Bank of England may also influence the money supply.
They can increase or decrease the number of deposits that commercial banks must have as reserves or the interest rates these banks set for loans.
A higher interest rate discourages people from taking loans, thereby affecting the money supply. In addition, the Bank of England may inject cash into the market.
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Total Money in the World Conclusion
As you can see, it can be difficult to arrive at a specific answer to the question of how much money is in the world. How much money is in the world is only a function of money supply and money supply is always moving .
For instance, when any bank in the world issues a loan, the money supply increases, and at repayment of the loan the supply decreases.
So, whilst the recent report of the total amount of money in the world shows that there's US$40 trillion in circulation, this figure only represents narrow money.
Financial analysts forecast that this figure is set to increase as developing countries are making committed efforts to stabilize their economies and increasing the total money in the world.