第７６６堀：大陸間交易大会議とお金の話 (Part2)
Naturally, they are extremely strict when it comes to money, and surprisingly, the various nations are actually working together on this.
Well, looking at it from another angle, they are keeping each other under surveillance, using any slip-up as a pretext for invasion.
Using gold coins with reduced purity as currency is tantamount to picking a fight with neighboring countries.
For the sake of security, they had no choice but to produce currency in earnest.
Whether this will continue in the future, however, is anyone's guess.
"Then, what about the negotiations with the place that produces currency, which you and the others mentioned?"
"In the end, it just meant talking with the major powers. Well, as for a common currency or increasing production to meet the rising usage during future trade, we’re currently in a wait-and-see phase."
We still don't know how much money will move or in what way.
"Ah, so that’s why trade is mainly conducted in the form of exchanging goods for goods?"
"You're right, Ria. Dealing in currency from the start is risky. Even if the amounts are small, they’re still significant for an individual, but for intercontinental exchange, we’ve decided to have them pay the fractions in coin."
From there, the plan is to track the movement of money.
In other words, this world is also doing its best in its own way.
They aren't completely ignorant. The same goes for magic, and they are even conducting research on monsters.
Since the actual problems differ depending on the world, the progress simply follows a different path.
The way civilization grew on Earth isn't the standard for every world, after all.
"…That said, there’s a limit to gold production. Eventually, we’ll have to shift to credit currency like banknotes, or we’ll hit a ceiling."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Gold is finite. Do you understand that?"
"Mm. Hiiro understands. We dig it from gold mines, so eventually, the gold will run out."
"Exactly. As Hiiro says, it’s not a problem right now because we’re mining gold from all over, but you’ve heard of mines drying up, right?"
"Oh, yes. Back when I lived in the village, I heard a traveling merchant say that a mine ran out of iron and he lost his job."
"I’ve heard that too."
It was good that Ria and the others had heard of this; it made it easier to explain.
"It means the total amount of gold that can be extracted isn't infinite. In other words, we can't keep using gold as currency forever. Eventually, the gold will disappear. Besides, money is something that gets used, so it wears down, right?"
"It does. Worn-out gold, silver, or copper coins lose their value."
"Which means the value of the gold coins is decreasing, and the gold itself is wearing away."
"““Ah.””"
They finally seemed to grasp what I was saying.
The fact that gold wears down doesn't just mean it's not being circulated; it means that because of this wear and tear, gold is literally vanishing from the world.
Considering future trade, the gold coin system is unsustainable.
"That’s why, as I showed you all, if we can create something like these banknotes—things that don't use expensive, rare materials and are difficult to forge—we could replace gold coins with them..."
"In that case, we could make as much money as we want."
Well, it started as a voucher that could be exchanged for gold, but on Earth, the amount of banknotes in circulation actually exceeds the total value of gold.
That’s why, quite literally, trust is what matters most...
"Well, that doesn't mean we can just make too much of it, either."
If we do, the value of the currency we created will plummet.
"Why? Isn't it a good thing to have more money?"
"Brother, Hiiro doesn't really get it either."
...How should I explain inflation?
Is it easy to understand if I say, "If everyone becomes rich, the price of goods goes up"? Even if that’s a bit misleading...
...I feel like there was a question on a social studies test about explaining inflation and deflation. What did I write back then?
While I was thinking about that, the meeting proceeded rapidly.
"Payments for magic tools produced on the Rogari Continent will be made in wheat and gold coins from the If Continent, and in gold coins from the New Continent..."
Listening to the trade decisions made so far, Rogari mainly provides magic tools, the If Continent provides wheat with little gold coin exchange, and the New Continent, which has only sent two nations and one church, has no particular trade goods other than gold coins.
We can't afford to export supplies right now. The only major thing is the alcohol the Haire Church produces...
...Surely no country is going to start saying, "We don't have money, so why don't we just make some?"
Self-purification will kick in... right?
Wait, wishful thinking like this is bad.
I have to always assume the worst.
However, this means I’ll have to study social studies again...
Was inflation when total demand exceeds total supply?
And deflation was the opposite?
Ah, I don't know anymore. I wasn't an economics major.
Do I need to consider establishing a central bank immediately!?
...That’s it. I should just make Taiki, Taizo-san, and Souta-san think about it.
Money has come up for the first time in a while.
Well, to set purity levels and exchange rates, the most important thing is for this intercontinental exchange to begin.
Money is a very serious business, after all.
It seems each continent was quite diligent about this.
However, the details about the people from other worlds who created the history of currency remain unknown.
It’s not even certain if the story about them unifying the continents is true.
And how will Weed and the other continents handle money from here on out?
Look forward to it.