Search Results
Monograph
Benjamin Franklin and the birth of a paper money economy
This publication, an essay based on a lecture presented at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia by Professor Farley Grubb of the University of Delaware, tells readers about Benjamin Franklin?s role in the debate about devising a system of paper money in the colonies and his monetary philosophy.
Journal Article
Private money in our past, present, and future
The government isn?t the only entity allowed to issue money. Private citizens and businesses can too, and throughout U.S. history, they often have. But private money?as such money is called?isn?t issued much these days. What lessons have our experiences with private money taught us, and what do they imply for our money today and in the future?
Working Paper
National bank notes and silver certificates
From 1883 to 1892, the circulation of national bank notes in the United States fell nearly 50 percent. Previous studies have attributed this to supply-side factors that led to a decline in the profitability of note issue during this period. This paper provides an alternative explanation. The decline in note issue was, in large part, demand-driven. The presence of a competing currency with superior features caused the public to substitute away from national bank notes.
Report
Cash counts
Does cash still count? Electronic payments in their many forms are a ubiquitous part of our culture and the U.S. economy. Many of us have our paychecks automatically deposited in our bank accounts. We use online bill payment services and frequently shop at our favorite virtual storefronts. Businesses increasingly use electronic payment methods?taking advantage of cost and efficiency gains to contribute to their bottom lines. With this commonplace use of electronic money, you might assume that paper payments are shrinking, and perhaps the predictions of a cashless society, which have persisted ...
Journal Article
Currency in circulation
