Money and its Function

Money does not just consist of notes and coins. Only about 3 to 5% of the UK’s money supply consists of actual cash. Most money is held as deposits in banks and other financial institutions. The bulk of these deposits only appear as book keeping entries in the accounts of these institutions. It is possible for people to access the money in their accounts through the use of debit cards, cheques, standing orders, direct debits and so on without the need for cash. This means that banks and other financial institutions need to keep only a small percentage of these deposits in their safes and at their counters in the form of cash.

The Functions of Money
The primary function of money is to facilitate the buying and selling of goods, services and assets. This is known as a medium of exchange. There are also two other main functions of money. The main functions are covered in more depth below:

• Medium of exchange. In an economy where people make items themselves to meet their own needs there would be no need for money as people would barter using their spare items that they have produced. If one person wanted an item another person had they would simple barter and arrange an exchange of goods. In a modern economy which is highly developed, barter would be impractical in most circumstances. What is needed is a medium of exchange which is generally acceptable as a means of payment for goods, services, labour and factors of production/ service. Money carries out this function. To be an effective and suitable means of exchange, money must be light for it to be carried around, be divisible (come in different denominations) and not be easy forged or replicated.
  
• Means of Evaluation. Money allows for the comparison of the value of goods, services and assets. The value of goods and services is expressed in terms of prices and these prices are expressed in terms of money. This allows for different items which are dissimilar, such as a company’s assets, to be added up. Money, thus serves as a ‘unit of account’.
  
• Store of wealth. People and organisations need to be able to use the earnings of one days labour or operation to purchase goods and services in the future. This would mean they would need to store their wealth and that they need a means of saving. Money facilitates the storing of wealth as it can be saved.