This source, a transcript from a video by Richard J. Murphy, argues against the common notion that government debt must be repaid, asserting that this debt is fundamentally the cumulative difference between government spending and taxation over time, and thus represents the nation's money supply. Murphy contends that attempting to repay this debt would be economically disastrous, eliminating the government-created money necessary for paying taxes and undermining critical sectors like pensions, insurance, and banking, which rely on government bonds. Instead of repayment, the focus should be on managing the interest rates on this essential debt, which is presented not as a burden but as a foundational element of a stable economy.
This video transcript elucidates the non-physical nature of modern money, asserting that it is essentially a record of governmental debt rather than a tangible asset. It emphasizes that currency is not backed by precious metals like gold and derives its value from a government's power to levy taxes, creating a demand for its own legal tender. The explanation further details how money creation and payment occur digitally, through banks adjusting balances on computer systems, underscoring that this system functions based on collective agreement, law, and established practice rather than intrinsic worth.
Currency exchange, transfer money