dollars. In 2008, their rate of inflation hit 500 billion percent, and soon after, Zimbabwe

abandoned their currency. So, how did it get so bad, and what exactly is inflation?

Well, often inflation is described as “too much money chasing too few goods”. What

this means, is, if there’s too much physical currency floating around in the economy, then

the money’s worth is diluted. Inflation and DEflation, are tightly regulated by the

government. And if they weren’t, unchecked inflation of currency could lead to market

chaos. In severe cases, a person’s life savings could become essentially worthless.

There are many variable factors that play into inflation. One, is the confidence that

users have in their currency. Ever since the gold standard was abandoned, money stopped

having real worth, based on precious metals. So, modern currency only has value because

the government, and its citizens say it does, and they believe in it. However, when the

guarantee of that money’s value by the government is threatened by something drastic, like war,

it loses some intrinsic value.

Another factor that affects the value of money is defined by the ratio of buying and producing

in the economy -- or “supply and demand”. In a year, let’s say, if everyone bought

the exact amount of goods and services which were produced, this ratio would be 1 to 1,

and there would be NO inflation or deflation of prices. HOWEVER - if more or less goods

are produced than normal, or, more or less people want to buy them, prices can fluctuate.

The Federal Reserve keeps watch of inflation patterns, via long-term “price indexes”

or the change in inflation rates for various categories of products. The “CPI” or Consumer

Price Index, and the “PPI”, or Producer Price Index, are two commonly used measurements.

One looks at how much consumers are paying for products, and the other looks at the prices

listed by the producer.

Without government regulation, an imbalance in a market’s supply and demand can be exacerbated

by a lack of public confidence in the currency. When that happens, “hyperinflation” or

“hyperdeflation” may occur - and normal items can wind up costing either a fraction,

or several hundred times what they normally do. For instance, when Germany was struggling

to pay its World War 1 debts in 1923, their currency lost investor confidence, and went

into hyperinflation. According to reports back then, a simple newspaper cost a wheelbarrow

full of German Marks.

For Zimbabwe, the worst of their hyperinflation woes are past. But even presently, many continue

to improvise their currency, by giving change in things like: pens, candy, and bubble gum.

Soon, hopefully, Zimbabwe’s currency will stabilize, and people can continue to grow

the market economy with an effective system of money.

If you’re interested in learning more about Zimbabwe and the situation there, check out

our video about the racial struggles between black and white farmers. Thanks for joining

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