THE ROLE OF MONEY WHAT IT SHOULD BE, CONTRASTED WITH WHAT IT HAS BECOME By FREDERICK SODDY M. A. Oxon LL. D. Glasgow F. R. S. Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 1921 Author of Science and Life Wealth, Virtual Wealth, and Debt Money versus Man etc. LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, LTD. BROADWAY HOUSE 68-74 CARTER LANE, E. C. J 934 CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. THE PHILOSOPHIC BACKGROUND ERGOSOPHY i The Objective The Monetary System Obsolete The Community Standpoint Social Importance of Energetics Energy Theory of Wealth Ergosophy Wealth and Calories Marxism Obsolete Relation between Peoples and Govern ments Physical Interpretation of History The Truth about Materialism The Physical Origin of Progress The Doctrine of Struggle Modern Wars and National Debts The Real Struggle The Taboo on Scientific Economics Wars and Revolutions result from Wealth The Monetary System impedes the Flow. II. THE THEORY OF MONEY VIRTUAL WEALTH . . . . V 24 . - . What is Money Barter and Barter-Currencies v Paper Money Bank-Credit The Private Issue of Money Monetary Policy What gives Value to Money Two Fundamental Monetary Principles Virtual Wealth The Communitys Credit Credit money a Tax Backed Money Money a Claim to what does not Exist The Price-Level Money from the Issuers Standpoint Money not now a Tangible Token Changeover from Barter to Credit Money The False Step Why was it False The Profit, , of tfye, . Issue of Money Money In destructible without Expropriation. III. THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MONEY . 56 The Origin of the Cheque Government Regulation of Banking-VLending Cheque books Genuine and Fictitious Loans Current Account VI CONTENTS CHAP. PAGB Deposits Why Cheque Money is preferred to Tokens The Gold-StandardThe Correct Procedure The Credit or Trade CycleHow the Losses are Distributed Fraudulent Monetary Terminology The Gold Drain The Govern ments Connivance The Cunliffe Committee Deflation The Abortive Return to Gold True blue Treason The 1928 Act What is Genuine Money To-day IV. MONEY AS IT Now Is . .86 Monetary Illusions A Distinction without a Difference The Vested Interest in Creating Money Open Market Operations Cash I Banks now Create Money for Themselves to SpeHa The Banker as Tax-gatherer The Sprat to catch a Mackerel Banks give no Security Whatever The Time-element of Money The Circulation of Money The Value of Money or Price-level Some Monetary Factors A Grain Currency Economizing in the Use of Money now Fallacious Money Tokens or Book Credit Should Money-lending now be Permitted Physical Absurdity of Short-term Lending Current Accounts and Time deposits How the Banker avoids His Own Trap. V. INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELA TIONS 116 Bad Money Embroils the Nations International Banking Money at Call and Short Notice How the International Banker rules the World Money is National not International Debt Importers pay Exporters of their Own Nation The Balance of Trader-Effect of Loans and Repayments The Foreign Exchanges Gold-Standard drags all Nations down to Level of Lowest Effect of freeing Foreign Exchanges Correct Use of Gold. VI. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF A MONEY SYSTEM . . . .135 Money in the New Economics There is now no Shortage of Wealth Motive The Existing CONTENTS Vll CHAP. PAGE Wealth Consumption for Production and for Leisure Consumable and Capital Wealth Capital Debts not Repayable Energy Con siderations Productive Capital not Distribut able Capital under Communism and Individualism All Costs of Production are Distributed to Consumers Production for Con sumers Production for Producers The Accumulation of Debts Solution of the Un employment Problem Cost of Increasing Pro duction not Repayable The Quantity of Money cannot be Calculated The Price Index determines the Quantity of Money The Wasteful Costs of Distribution The Role of Money summarized. VII. DEBTS AND DEBT REDEMPTION ...

The Role of Money examines the mystery of money in its social aspect and illustrates what money now is, what is does and what it should do. The standpoint from which the book is written is that of the public. The significance of the 'money-power' of the state to issue money has been recently recognized by historians. Its key position in shaping the course of world events is here explained. Included are: * Chapters on the philosophic background * The theory of money - Virtual Wealth * The Evolution of Modern Money * International Economic Relations * Debts and Debt Redemption

The Role of Money examines the mystery of money in its social aspect and illustrates what money now is, what is does and what it should do. The standpoint from which the book is written is that of the public. The significance of the 'money-power' of the state to issue money has been recently recognized by historians. Its key position in shaping the course of world events is here explained.
Included are:
* Chapters on the philosophic background
* The theory of money - Virtual Wealth
* The Evolution of Modern Money
* International Economic Relations
* Debts and Debt Redemption

Cartesian Economics, The Bearing of Physical Science upon State Stewardship is a compilation of two lectures given by Frederick Soddy to the student unions of Birbeck College and the London School of Economics. The lectures were the first of four works written between 1921 and 1934 that applied the concepts of hard science to the economy. Though Soddy's ideas were largely rejected at the time, much of his theories are rooted in real-world examples and mirrored in other aspects of life-like the laws of thermodynamics. Soddy's main arguments are against the concepts of debt and wealth. He likens the economy to a machine, which must draw energy from outside itself and which cannot forever recycle that energy to create more energy. Similarly, economists posited that debt could produce more wealth, and thus fuel an economy. Soddy argued instead that debt destroyed wealth, eating it up until there was more debt in a society than wealth, making it unsustainable. These lectures are poignant, and highly applicable to the economic situation at the beginning of the 21st century. They will interest burgeoning and seasoned economists yearning for a new perspective. FREDERICK SODDY (1877-1956) was an English radiochemist and monetary economist most well-known for proving the existence of isotopes in various radioactive elements. He worked with physicist Earnest Rutherford to explain radioactivity, contributing to the discovery of nuclear technology. Soddy also wrote several books on the theory of political economy, which he based on his scientific background and knowledge. In 1921, Soddy was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The lunar crater is named after him, as well as the uranium compound Soddyite.