A-level经济—货币精讲！

生活中，我们常说某个商品很有价值，那么用什么来衡量所谓的价值呢？用来衡量价值的东西我们称为一般等价物，也就是货币。今天我们就来讲讲A-level经济中的货币。通过一道essay真题(CIE考试局)来探究一下！

遇到这类以Discuss为引导词的essay 题，我们要从正反两面来进行分析。

这道题问的是货币是否能够在经历高通货膨胀的经济中发挥其所有功能。一方面，货币确实能够在经济高通货膨胀时期发挥其所有功能，另一方面则是这种情况不一定存在。

我们首先要明确money的功能：

交换媒介、计算单位和价值储存手段。然后依次针对每个功能进行讨论，看高通胀率对他们每个的影响，并对影响进行评价。Money can serve as a medium of exchange, unit of account and store of value. During periods of high inflation the price level is rising at a rapid pace. The functions of money are challenged during these periods.

货币是一种交换媒介。如果一个人选择购买一种商品或服务，货币将被用于支付。比如，一个学生用货币从学校购买教科书。在高通货膨胀时期，人们可能会继续接受使用货币，但这会变得越来越困难。这是由于货币贬值的速度太快以至于店主可能会选择另一种商品作为交换，而不是特定类型的货币。

随着通货膨胀率的迅速上升，用货币购买的商品与过去不一样了。因此, 企业家可能不愿意接受货币支付。在津巴布韦的恶性通货膨胀时期，企业开始接受其他国家的货币和黄金而不是本国货币。

然而，货币并不是国家货币，而是一种被接受为支付手段的东西。从这个意义上说，虽然货币的种类发生了变化，但货币仍在使用。

Firstly, money serves as a medium of exchange. If an individual chooses to purchase a good or service, money will be accepted as payment. An example of this would be a student purchasing a textbook from school using money. During periods of high inflation, people may continue to accept money, but it would be increasingly difficult to do so. This is due to the fact that since money is losing its value so quickly, a shopkeeper may prefer another item in exchange as opposed to that specific type of money. As inflation rises rapidly, money does not purchase the same items it used to. Therefore, business owners may be reluctant to accept money as payment. In Zimbabwe, during a period of hyperinflation, businesses started accepting other country’s currencies and gold as opposed to the national currency. However, money is not defined as the national currency, but only as something that is accepted as payment. In this sense, although the type of money has changed, money is still being used.

货币是一种计算单位。人们可以通过看某物的价格并用货币来衡量它的价值。它的价值取决于消费者和企业对金钱价值的理解。然而，在高通货膨胀时期，这一功能就变得更加困难。这是因为通货膨胀的速度太快，以至于生产者和消费者都很难用货币来预测某物的真实价格和价值。

Secondly, money serves as a unit of account. This means that people can determine the worth of something by looking at its price and referring to it in money terms.Its value can be determined to be based on an understanding of consumers and businesses of money’s worth. However, during periods of high inflation it becomes much more difficult to serve this function. This is because inflation is rising at such a rapid rate that both producers and consumers struggle to anticipate the true price and value of something in money terms.  

货币是一种价值储存手段。一个人可以把钱存起来以后用，当以后取款的时候，钱的价值还是一样的。比如说，如果我星期一把钱存入银行，下星期再把它取出来，它应该仍然保持它的价值。在高通胀时期，这一功能会立即受到威胁。存钱以备将来之用会使储蓄者失去存款的价值。如果一个人今天存了100美元，下周去取，这100美元可能买不到以前那么多。因此，我们几乎可以肯定，在高通货膨胀时期，货币无法发挥这一功能。

Thirdly, money serves as a store of value. This means that an individual can store money for later use and it will have the same value when it is later withdrawn. For example, if I put my money into the bank on Monday and withdraw it next week, it should still retain its value. During the  periods of high inflation, this function is immediately challenged. Saving money for future use will definitely ensure the saver loses the value of their deposits. If an individual deposits $100 today, and goes to withdraw it next week, the same $100 may not buy as much as it did previously. Therefore, it is almost certain that money is not able to serve this function during the periods of high inflation.  

总的来说，高通货膨胀率对货币功能的影响大小不一。价值储存手段的功能会受到最严重的影响，货币将失去其保持价值的能力。其次，货币可以继续作为交换媒介, 但可被接受的货币形式可能会改变。最后，计算单位的功能可能继续存在，但这取决于通胀率上升到多高，持久且快速的价格上涨将对这功能产生更严重的影响。再有，持续的快速增长对这三种功能的损害要远大于短期且适度的增长。

On balance, the high rate of inflation will not affect all functions of money equally. The severest impact will be on its function as a store of value. Money will lose its ability to retain value. Secondly, money may continue to serve as a medium of exchange, but the accepted form of money may change. Finally, the unit of account can possibly continue, but it depends on how high the rate of inflation rises. A sustained and rapid rise of prices would have a much more severe impact on this function. Moreover, a sustained and rapid rise would harm all three functions much more than a short-ter.