Page 1
From Barter to Money
Page 2
From Barter to Money
Introduction
Barter System
Before the invention of
money, people used the
barter system to
exchange goods and
services. For example,
crops or beads were
traded for other items.
Earliest Trade Items
Cowrie shells
Salt
Cloth
Cattle
System Limitations
However, this system was inefficient.
Page 3
From Barter to Money
Introduction
Barter System
Before the invention of
money, people used the
barter system to
exchange goods and
services. For example,
crops or beads were
traded for other items.
Earliest Trade Items
Cowrie shells
Salt
Cloth
Cattle
System Limitations
However, this system was inefficient.
Barter System
Evolution of Money
Money evolved as a common tool that
everyone accepts for buying or selling goods
and services, making trade much easier.
Today, we use coins, notes, and digital
methods (like mobile payments) to conduct
transactions.
John Maynard Keynes, a renowned
economist, stated that money connects the
present to the future by helping us save and
spend later.
Page 4
From Barter to Money
Introduction
Barter System
Before the invention of
money, people used the
barter system to
exchange goods and
services. For example,
crops or beads were
traded for other items.
Earliest Trade Items
Cowrie shells
Salt
Cloth
Cattle
System Limitations
However, this system was inefficient.
Barter System
Evolution of Money
Money evolved as a common tool that
everyone accepts for buying or selling goods
and services, making trade much easier.
Today, we use coins, notes, and digital
methods (like mobile payments) to conduct
transactions.
John Maynard Keynes, a renowned
economist, stated that money connects the
present to the future by helping us save and
spend later.
Why Do We Need Money?
Double coincidence of wants
The farmer must find someone
who wants an ox and offers
exactly what he needs (shoes,
sweater, medicines). This is
rare.
Common standard measure
of value
It's hard to decide how much
an ox is worth compared to
shoes or medicines, as there's
no agreed value.
Divisibility
An ox cannot be split into parts
for smaller trades, like for a
sweater.
Portability
Carrying an ox or bags of wheat (traded for the ox)
to different places is difficult.
Durability
Wheat rots or gets eaten by rats, so it cannot be
stored for long.
The barter system had many problems, making money necessary. For Example: A farmer with an ox needs shoes, a
sweater, and medicines but faces these challenges.
These problems made trading slow and complex, so a better system was needed. Money solves these issues by being a
common, portable, divisible, and durable way to trade.
Page 5
From Barter to Money
Introduction
Barter System
Before the invention of
money, people used the
barter system to
exchange goods and
services. For example,
crops or beads were
traded for other items.
Earliest Trade Items
Cowrie shells
Salt
Cloth
Cattle
System Limitations
However, this system was inefficient.
Barter System
Evolution of Money
Money evolved as a common tool that
everyone accepts for buying or selling goods
and services, making trade much easier.
Today, we use coins, notes, and digital
methods (like mobile payments) to conduct
transactions.
John Maynard Keynes, a renowned
economist, stated that money connects the
present to the future by helping us save and
spend later.
Why Do We Need Money?
Double coincidence of wants
The farmer must find someone
who wants an ox and offers
exactly what he needs (shoes,
sweater, medicines). This is
rare.
Common standard measure
of value
It's hard to decide how much
an ox is worth compared to
shoes or medicines, as there's
no agreed value.
Divisibility
An ox cannot be split into parts
for smaller trades, like for a
sweater.
Portability
Carrying an ox or bags of wheat (traded for the ox)
to different places is difficult.
Durability
Wheat rots or gets eaten by rats, so it cannot be
stored for long.
The barter system had many problems, making money necessary. For Example: A farmer with an ox needs shoes, a
sweater, and medicines but faces these challenges.
These problems made trading slow and complex, so a better system was needed. Money solves these issues by being a
common, portable, divisible, and durable way to trade.
Modern barter examples
still exist, like:
Junbeel Mela
in Assam
Where people
trade roots,
vegetables, and
handmade
goods for rice
cakes and food.
Book
exchanges
Where people
swap old books
for new ones.
Household
Trades
Trading old
clothes for new
utensils,
benefiting both
households and
vendors.
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