Chapter 07 · Economics

Money and Inflation

Evolution of Money · Money Supply · Currency Facts · Inflation Types · WPI/CPI — BPSC / BSSC

What is Money?

Money: Anything that serves as a medium of exchange or payment for all goods and services.

Evolution of Money
StageForm
Barter System (before money)Exchange of goods for goods
Commodity MoneyAnimals, Shells
Metallic MoneyCoins of Gold, Silver, etc.
Paper MoneyBank Notes
Credit MoneyBank Cheques, Credit/Debit Cards, Drafts
Plastic MoneyCards
Crypto CurrencyBitcoin, Dogecoin, etc.
Functions of Money

Primary Functions

  • Medium of Exchange
  • Measure / Unit of Value

Secondary Functions

  • Store of Value
  • Standard of Deferred Payments
⚠ EXAM TRAP
"Medium of Exchange" and "Measure of Value" are Primary functions; "Store of Value" and "Deferred Payments" are Secondary — a common swap in MCQs.
Types of Money
TypeDescription
Legal TenderIssued by government/central bank; obligatory for persons to accept
Token MoneyIntrinsic value less than face value; current ₹1 coin
Scarce MoneyMore demand than supply in international market ($)
Credit MoneyNot compulsory to accept; promissory note, cheque, bill of exchange, bank drafts
Hot MoneyQuickly moves in financial markets; e.g. foreign currency in stock market
Standard MoneyValue of goods and money considered the same
Near MoneyQuick and easily convertible to cash — gold, silver, savings accounts
Surplus MoneyExcessive supply than demand in international market (Indian rupee)
Liquidity of Money

Liquidity: Ability to convert assets into cash quickly without loss or delay.

Cash > Bank Demand Deposits > Bank Savings > Bank Fixed Deposits

Most liquid asset: Cash

Velocity of Money
  • Number of times a unit of money circulates in an economy within a specific period
  • Demand for Money is based on daily or future emergency needs
Money Supply Measures
MeasureDefinitionTypeLiquidity
M₀Currency in circulation + Bankers deposits with RBI + Other deposits with RBIReserve Money
M₁Currency with Public + Net Demand deposits with commercial banksNarrow MoneyHighest
M₂M₁ + Savings deposits with Post-officeNarrow MoneyLess than M₁
M₃M₂ + Net time deposits with commercial banksBroad MoneyLess than M₂
M₄M₃ + Total post office deposits (excluding National Savings Certificates)Broad MoneyLowest

Un-declared income / Black Money is part of the parallel economy.

⚠ EXAM TRAP
Liquidity decreases from M₁ to M₄ (M₁ = highest liquidity, M₄ = lowest) — the reverse order is a common trap in ranking-based questions.
Fisher's Exchange Equation
MV = PT

M = Money Supply, V = Velocity of Circulation, P = Price Level, T = Transactions

⚡ QUICK RECALL
Fisher's equation (MV=PT) is also the basis for the Money Illusion concept — perceiving nominal income without accounting for inflation.
Important Facts Related to Currency
  • Issuance of paper currency under the monopoly of the Government of India after 1861
  • First note with Mahatma Gandhi's image: ₹100 in 1969; ₹500 in 1987; on all notes from 1996
  • All notes feature 17 languages (Hindi, English + 15 others)
  • Decimal system of currency adopted in 1957
₹ Symbol
Designed ByUday Kumar (IIT Guwahati)
Design ConceptCombination of "₹" of Devanagari and Roman "R"
Accepted2020
5thCountry with own currency symbol

Other 4 countries: USA (Dollar $), Japan (Yen ¥), European Union (Euro €), UK (Pound Sterling £)

Devaluation of Currency
  • Compared to foreign currency — decrease in the external value of currency
  • No effect on intrinsic value
1949First Devaluation
1966Second Devaluation
1991Third Devaluation
Inflation — Meaning
  • Continuous rise in the general price level
  • Decrease in currency price causes decrease in purchasing power
  • Money Illusion (Irving Fisher, MV=PT): Perceiving nominal income without accounting for inflation
Inflation Target in India4% ± 2%
Causes of Inflation
  • Demand Pull: Due to rise in demand
  • Cost Push: Due to rise in production cost

According to Keynes, actual inflation begins after the full employment point.

Types of Inflation
TypeDescription
Creeping InflationInflation rate in single digits (3% or less)
Walking Inflation3% to 6%, or less than 10% per annum
Running InflationPrices rise rapidly at 20–30% per annum
Galloping InflationAnnual rate in two/three digits (20–100%)
Hyper InflationInflation rate above triple digits
Open InflationPrices free to rise without government intervention
Imported InflationDue to rising prices of imported raw products (e.g., petroleum)
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Running Inflation (20–30%) and Galloping Inflation (20–100%) overlap in range but Galloping is the broader/more severe category — often confused as identical.
Other Inflation-Related Terms
  • Disinflation: Slowdown in the rate of inflation (prices still rising, but slower)
  • Deflation: Fall in general price level (negative inflation)
  • Reflation: Deliberately raising prices by increasing money and credit
  • Stagflation: Both inflation and unemployment are high simultaneously
  • Headline Inflation: Total inflation including food and energy; measured by CPI-C
  • Core Inflation: First used in India (2000–01); excludes food and fuel; related to non-food manufactured goods
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Disinflation ≠ Deflation — Disinflation means prices are still rising but slower; Deflation means prices are actually falling.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
First PublishedJanuary 1942
Compiled ByOffice of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
FrequencyMonthly (earlier weekly)
Base Year2011–12 (since 2017) — Committee: Saumitra Choudhuri
New Proposed Base Year2022–23

Major Groups (WPI) — Weightage

GroupWeight
Primary Articles22.62%
Fuel and Power13.15%
Manufactured Products64.23%

PPI (Producer Price Index): Considered better than WPI and CPI; measures inflation from the producer's perspective.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)
CategoryFull FormBase YearCompiled ByKey Use
CPI-IWCPI – Industrial Workers2016Labour BureauDetermining dearness allowance of employees
CPI-ALCPI – Agricultural Labourers2012Labour Bureau
CPI-RLCPI – Rural Labourers2012Labour Bureau
CPI-RCPI – Rural2012
CPI-UCPI – Urban2012
CPI-CCPI – Combined (R + U)2012CSO (now NSO)Used by RBI

CPI-C is used by RBI, published by the Central Statistics Office (now National Statistical Office).

⚠ EXAM TRAP
CPI-IW has a different base year (2016) than all other CPI categories (2012) — a frequently tested exception.
Phillips Curve
Proposed ByA.W. Phillips
ShowsInverse relationship between Inflation and Unemployment rates
Fiscal Measures (by Government)
  • Increase in direct taxes
  • Reduction in fiscal deficit — cut unnecessary expenditure, avoid deficit financing
  • Reduction in subsidies
  • Borrow money from public — reduces cash with people
Monetary Measures (by RBI)
  • Increase in Repo Rate / Bank Rate — discourages borrowing
  • Increase in CRR and SLR — reduces banks' lending capacity
  • Sell government securities
  • Tight credit policy
Measures to Tackle Monetary Contraction

Fiscal

  • Increase public expenditure
  • Reduce taxes
  • Payment of loans

Monetary

  • Circulation of currency
  • Accommodative monetary policy
⚡ QUICK RECALL
To FIGHT inflation: raise rates/taxes, cut spending. To fight monetary CONTRACTION (deflationary pressure): opposite — raise spending, cut taxes, ease money supply.
Quick Reference Summary
TopicKey Fact
Money DefinitionMedium of exchange or payment for all goods and services
Most Liquid AssetCash
Legal TenderIssued by government/central bank; must accept
Token MoneyIntrinsic value < Face value; Current ₹1 coin
Near MoneyEasily convertible to cash — gold, silver, savings accounts
Fisher's Exchange EquationMV = PT
M₁Narrow Money; Highest Liquidity
M₄Broad Money; Lowest Liquidity
M₀Reserve Money
₹ Symbol Designed ByUday Kumar (IIT Guwahati); accepted 2020
India5th country to have its own currency symbol
Decimal Currency Adopted1957
Devaluation in India1949, 1966, 1991
InflationContinuous rise in general price level
Inflation Target (India)4% ± 2%
Demand Pull InflationRise in demand
Cost Push InflationRise in production cost
Keynes on InflationActual inflation begins after full employment point
StagflationHigh inflation + High unemployment simultaneously
DeflationFall in general price level (negative inflation)
ReflationDeliberately raising prices by increasing money and credit
Headline InflationMeasured by CPI-C; includes food and energy
Core InflationExcludes food and fuel; related to non-food manufactured goods
WPI First PublishedJanuary 1942; Base year: 2011–12; New proposed: 2022–23
WPI Compiled ByOffice of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
PPIProducer Price Index; better than WPI and CPI
CPI-IW Base Year2016; compiled by Labour Bureau
CPI-C Used ByRBI; Base year 2012; published by NSO
Phillips CurveInverse relationship between inflation and unemployment
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