1. In a barter system, storage costs can be considered a type of transaction cost.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. If you have to hold large quantities of perishable or bulky goods while searching for a trading partner, the costs of storing and maintaining those goods (e.g., warehousing, preventing spoilage) are a significant transaction cost inherent to the barter system.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.
2. The Chartalist perspective argues that money must have intrinsic value to be accepted.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The Chartalist (or state) theory argues the opposite. It posits that money is a token whose value is derived from the state's willingness to accept it in payment of taxes. It does not need intrinsic value; its value comes from the authority of the state. The Metallist view emphasizes intrinsic value.
Source: Goodhart, C.A.E. (1998), 'The two concepts of money'.
3. Deflation increases the effectiveness of money as a store of value.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. Deflation is a general decrease in the price level, which means the purchasing power of money is increasing. Therefore, holding money becomes more attractive as it will be worth more in the future, enhancing its function as a store of value.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.
4. The settlement risk in a debit card transaction is primarily borne by the cardholder's bank.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. In a debit card transaction, the cardholder's bank guarantees the payment to the merchant's bank. If the cardholder's account has insufficient funds after the fact (due to system lags), the bank bears the immediate loss. This is different from a credit card, where the issuer explicitly assumes credit risk.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
5. The concept of 'legal tender' is most relevant for commodity money.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: 'Legal tender' is a status declared by a government that a certain form of money must be accepted for the settlement of debts. This concept is fundamental to fiat money, as it provides a legal basis for its acceptance. Commodity money is accepted due to its intrinsic value, not primarily because of a government mandate.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
6. In the Wicksell problem, the introduction of credit can solve the issue without needing a physical money object, provided there is perfect enforcement of contracts.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. The Wicksell problem arises from a lack of trust or commitment. If promises to pay (credit) could be perfectly and costlessly enforced, then agents in the chain could simply issue IOUs to each other, and the trades could proceed without a physical medium of exchange. Money emerges as a substitute for this lack of trust.
Source: Kiyotaki, N. and Moore, J.H. (2001), 'Evil is the Root of all Money'.
7. The cost of producing fiat money is typically higher than its face value.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The cost of producing fiat money (printing paper notes or minting coins) is significantly lower than its face value. The difference between the face value and the production cost is called 'seigniorage' and is a source of revenue for the government.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
8. An economy can have a medium of exchange that is not also the unit of account.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. While they are usually the same, it is possible to have a separate unit of account and medium of exchange. For example, in some historical periods, prices were quoted in a unit of account (e.g., a gold standard currency) while actual transactions were conducted using different coins (the medium of exchange).
Source: Goodhart, C.A.E. (1998), 'The two concepts of money'.
9. The finality of payment is identical for a personal cheque and a debit card transaction.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: A debit card transaction is typically final at the point of sale. A personal cheque is not; it is a promise to pay that is not final until the cheque clears the banking system, which can take several days. The cheque can still be rejected for insufficient funds during this period.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
10. The liquidity of an asset is a binary property; an asset is either liquid or it is not.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Liquidity is a continuous property, existing on a spectrum. Assets can be ranked from most liquid (money) to highly illiquid (real estate, private equity). Some assets are more liquid than others, meaning they can be converted to cash more quickly and with less loss of value.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 3.
11. The adoption of a common medium of exchange increases specialization in an economy.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. By solving the double coincidence of wants problem, money allows people to focus on producing what they are best at, rather than what is most easily traded. They can then sell their specialized output for money and use the money to buy everything else they need.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 4.
12. 'Outside money' can be created by the lending activities of commercial banks.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The lending activities of commercial banks create 'inside money' (deposits). 'Outside money' (fiat currency and central bank reserves) is created by the central bank.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.10.
13. A credit card transaction reduces the money supply.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: A credit card transaction itself does not affect the money supply. It is a transfer of IOUs. The money supply is affected later when the credit card bill is paid, which involves a transfer of existing bank deposits from the cardholder to the credit card company.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
14. The 'durability' of money is a more significant problem for commodity monies than for fiat money.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. Many potential commodities (like crops or livestock) are not durable and thus make poor money. Fiat money (modern polymer notes and coins) is engineered to be highly durable. While it can be destroyed, its physical degradation is less of a day-to-day concern than for many historical commodity monies.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 13.
15. The Metallist view of money is consistent with the idea of money emerging spontaneously to solve the inefficiencies of barter.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. The Metallist view, championed by economists like Carl Menger, posits that money is not a creation of the state but a market institution that evolves naturally as individuals seek to reduce the transaction costs of barter by using a highly saleable commodity.
Source: Goodhart, C.A.E. (1998), 'The two concepts of money'.
16. If an economy has 4 goods, a barter system would require 6 unique prices, while a monetary system would require 4.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. Using the formula N(N-1)/2 for barter prices, with N=4, we get 4(3)/2 = 6 prices. In a monetary system, we only need N=4 prices, one for each good in terms of the monetary unit.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 10.
17. A key function of money is to make the relative values of goods and services more obscure.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Money does the opposite. By providing a unit of account, it makes the relative values of goods and services clear and easy to compare, which greatly simplifies economic calculation.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.
18. When a bank loan is repaid, the supply of inside money increases.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: When a bank loan is repaid, the process of money creation is reversed. The loan asset is removed from the bank's balance sheet, and the deposit liability is also destroyed. This causes the supply of inside money to decrease.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
19. The fundamental value of fiat money is zero.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. Fiat money has no intrinsic value; it is not a claim on any real asset and has no use-value in itself. Its positive market value is a social convention, often supported by its legal tender status and the public's belief that it will be accepted by others (a self-fulfilling prophecy).
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.10.
20. The Wicksell problem is primarily about the indivisibility of goods.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The Wicksell problem is about a lack of trust and commitment in a sequence of exchanges. It is distinct from the problem of indivisibility, which concerns the difficulty of making change for large goods.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.9.
21. Using a credit card is a way of accessing the economy's medium of exchange at the point of sale.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: This is more accurate for a debit card. Using a credit card is a way of accessing credit (a loan). The medium of exchange is not used by the cardholder at the point of sale; instead, a debt is created which will be settled later using the medium of exchange.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
22. The more liquid an asset is, the higher its expected rate of return.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Generally, there is a trade-off between liquidity and return. The most liquid asset, money, typically has a very low or zero nominal rate of return. Less liquid assets, like stocks or bonds, must offer a higher expected rate of return to compensate investors for the inconvenience and risk of holding them.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 3.
23. The value of the unit of account is always stable.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The value (or purchasing power) of the unit of account is subject to change due to inflation or deflation. A key goal of monetary policy is to keep this value relatively stable, but perfect stability is rarely achieved.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.
24. A bank run is a situation where the Metallist view of money breaks down.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: A bank run is a crisis for a system based on credit money (inside money). It occurs when depositors lose faith in a bank's ability to honor its liabilities (deposits) and rush to convert them into outside money (cash). This is a failure of credit, not a breakdown of the commodity theory of money.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
25. The act of quoting all prices in dollars in the US economy illustrates the 'medium of exchange' function of money.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Quoting prices in a common unit illustrates the 'unit of account' function. The 'medium of exchange' function is illustrated when dollars are actually used to buy and sell goods.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 7.
26. The fraud risk in a credit card transaction is initially borne by the merchant.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. In many cases, particularly for 'card-not-present' transactions, if a fraudulent transaction is disputed, the credit card company will issue a 'chargeback'. This reverses the payment, and the merchant bears the loss unless they can prove the transaction was legitimate.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
27. The supply of inside money is independent of the demand for bank loans.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The supply of inside money is demand-driven. It is created when households and firms demand loans from commercial banks and the banks agree to supply them. Without a demand for credit, inside money would not be created.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
28. Barter requires that the timing of wants must be synchronized between traders.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. This is another aspect of the double coincidence of wants. Not only must the goods match, but the desire to trade must occur at the same time. Money solves this by acting as a store of value, allowing one to sell a good today and buy another good at some point in the future.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 5.
29. The main liability of a modern central bank is its holdings of government bonds.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Government bonds are typically a major asset on a central bank's balance sheet. Its main liabilities are the monetary base: currency in circulation (held by the public) and reserves (held by commercial banks).
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
30. The 'standard of deferred payment' function of money is irrelevant for short-term contracts.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: This function is relevant for any contract that involves payment at a future date, regardless of how short the term is. Any form of trade credit, even for a day, relies on money serving as a standard for this future payment.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.
31. The physical form of money has remained constant throughout history.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The physical form of money has evolved dramatically, from shells, cattle, and stones (commodity money), to precious metals, to paper notes, and now to purely electronic entries in a computer ledger (credit money).
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.
32. A key advantage of commodity money is that its value is very stable.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The value of commodity money can be quite volatile, as it is subject to shocks in the supply of and demand for the underlying commodity. For example, a major gold discovery would devalue a gold-based currency.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
33. When you pay a merchant with a debit card, the merchant receives payment faster than if you had paid with a personal cheque.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. A debit card payment is authorized and settled electronically, usually within 1-2 business days. A cheque must be physically deposited and cleared through the banking system, which is a much slower process and carries the risk of bouncing.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
34. The quantity of outside money in an economy is determined by the lending decisions of commercial banks.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The quantity of outside money (currency plus reserves) is determined by the central bank through its monetary policy operations. The lending decisions of commercial banks determine the quantity of inside money.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
35. In the Kiyotaki and Moore model, money serves as a form of memory.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. In models with limited commitment, money can be seen as a way of keeping a record of past actions. Holding money proves that you have provided a good or service to someone in the past, which entitles you to receive a good or service in the future. It is a substitute for a perfect social memory of all transactions.
Source: Kiyotaki, N. and Moore, J.H. (2001), 'Evil is the Root of all Money'.
36. The transaction costs of barter are independent of the number of goods in the economy.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Transaction costs, particularly search costs and calculation costs, increase dramatically with the number of goods. The number of relative prices grows exponentially, and finding a double coincidence of wants becomes harder in a more complex economy.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 10.
37. A government budget deficit financed by printing money directly increases the stock of inside money.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Printing money (or the electronic equivalent) to finance a deficit increases the stock of outside money (the monetary base). This may lead to a secondary expansion of inside money if banks lend out their new reserves, but the direct impact is on outside money.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
38. The interest rate paid on credit card debt is typically lower than the interest rate on a bank savings account.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The interest rate on credit card debt (a form of unsecured lending) is significantly higher than the rate paid on savings accounts (a liability for the bank). This spread is a major source of profit for financial institutions.
Source: General Knowledge.
39. The functions of money are ranked in order of importance, with medium of exchange being the most important.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. Most economists consider the medium of exchange function to be the defining, essential characteristic of money. An asset must serve as a medium of exchange to be considered money, while other assets can also serve as stores of value or even, occasionally, as units of account.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.
40. The value of a commodity money is equal to the value of the resources used to produce it.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: In a competitive market, the value of a commodity money will tend towards its marginal cost of production. However, its value is determined by supply and demand, which includes its demand for non-monetary uses and its demand for use as money. These may not perfectly align with production costs at all times.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
41. A credit card company's primary asset is the outstanding balances owed by its cardholders.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. The outstanding loans (or credit card balances) are assets for the credit card company, as they represent a future stream of income from repayments and interest.
Source: General Knowledge.
42. The transition from barter to money increases the total time spent on transactions across the economy.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The transition to money dramatically reduces the total time spent on transactions by eliminating the search costs associated with finding a double coincidence of wants.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 5.
43. The central bank can perfectly control the amount of inside money in the economy.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The central bank has only indirect control over inside money. It can influence the creation of inside money through tools like the policy rate, but the final amount is determined by the lending behavior of commercial banks and the borrowing decisions of the public.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 2.
44. The 'fungibility' of money is another term for its divisibility.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Fungibility (or homogeneity) means that one unit of the currency is perfectly interchangeable with another of the same denomination. Divisibility refers to the ability to break it down into smaller units. While related, they are distinct properties.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 13.
45. According to the Chartalist view, the state's willingness to accept a token in payment of taxes gives that token value.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. This is the core tenet of the Chartalist or state theory of money. The state creates a demand for its otherwise worthless tokens (fiat money) by requiring them for the payment of taxes and other obligations to the state.
Source: Goodhart, C.A.E. (1998), 'The two concepts of money'.
46. A debit card is a form of 'inside money'.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: A debit card is a tool to access inside money (your bank deposit). The inside money itself is the deposit, not the physical card.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
47. The problem of indivisibility in barter is most severe for low-value goods.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The problem is most severe for high-value, complex goods. It is difficult to trade half a cow for a loaf of bread. Low-value goods are often more easily divisible or traded in integer amounts.
Source: EC3115 - Monetary Economics Unit D Lectures.pdf, Slide 6.
48. The widespread use of credit cards has made the 'store of value' function of money obsolete.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: While credit cards provide an alternative means of payment, money (especially bank deposits) is still a crucial store of value for households and firms for liquidity purposes. Furthermore, credit card bills must ultimately be paid using money, reinforcing money's fundamental role.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.8.
49. The net worth of the private sector increases when the central bank creates more outside money.
true
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: True. Outside money is an asset for the private sector but is not a liability of anyone within the private sector. Therefore, an increase in outside money represents a direct increase in the net financial assets held by the private sector.
Source: EC3115 - Ch 2 Nature of money-1.pdf, Section 2.10.
50. The primary risk of holding money is market risk.
false
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: The primary risk of holding money is inflation risk (or purchasing power risk)—the risk that a general rise in prices will decrease the amount of goods and services your money can buy. Market risk refers to the risk of losses in financial investments due to factors that affect the overall market.
Source: Lewis, M.K. and Mizen, P.D. (2000), Monetary Economics, Chapter 1.