Investopedia

Fiat Money

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Fiat Money'

Currency that a government has declared to be legal tender, despite the fact that it has no intrinsic value and is not backed by reserves. Historically, most currencies were based on physical commodities such as gold or silver, but fiat money is based solely on faith.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Fiat Money'

Most of the world's paper money is fiat money. Because fiat money is not linked to physical reserves, it risks becoming worthless due to hyperinflation. If people lose faith in a nation's paper currency, the money will no longer hold any value.

Articles Of Interest

  1. The History Of Money: From Barter To Banknotes

    Money has been a part of human history for at least 3,000 years. Learn how it evolved.
  2. What Is Money?

    It's a part of everyone's life, and we all want it, but do you know how it gains value and how it is created?
  3. What is the gold standard?

    The gold standard is a monetary system where a country's currency or paper money has a value directly linked to gold. With the gold standard, countries agreed to convert paper money into a fixed ...
  4. Trading The Gold-Silver Ratio

    This method may seem arcane, but many well-established strategies rely on it.
  5. Why The Consumer Price Index Is Controversial

    Find out why economists are torn about how to calculate inflation.
  6. Predict Inflation With The Producer Price Index

    Find out how the PPI can be used to gauge the overall health of the economy.
  7. Leading Economic Indicators Predict Market Trends

    Leading indicators help investors to predict and react to where the market is headed.
  8. Austerity: When The Government Tightens Its Belt

    When a government tightens its belt in tough economic times the entire nation feels the squeeze.
  9. Will Quantitative Easing Be Japan's Savior?

    The quantitative easing program, recently announced by the new governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, is for a cash infusion of $1.4 trillion by the end of 2014. Will it help the Japanese ...
  10. Inspecting A Country's Debt

    Tensions over just how to handle debt are pitting the rich world against the developing world like never before.
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Winner's Curse

    Because of incomplete information, emotions or any other number of factors regarding the item being auctioned, bidders can have a difficult time determining the item's intrinsic value. As a result, the largest overestimation of an item's value ends up winning the auction.
  2. Glocalization

    A combination of the words "globalization" and "localization" used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market.
  3. Disaster Loss

    A special type of tax-deductible loss, similar to a casualty loss, where a loss has been incurred by taxpayers who reside in an area that has been designated as a federal disaster area by the President.
  4. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.
  5. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
  6. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
Trading Center