Fractional reserve banking literally creates money. If you have the only $100 in existence and put it in a bank, they can then lend $100 to someone else, now $200 exists. You still have that $100, and so does the person that got the loan.

[–] Astroturfed@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Not at all true, they're lending the money in the bank. If you withdraw the money the bank can't loan it anymore it's the same money, just in different hands. It creates more circulation of the money through the economy but there isn't more money created with magic.

The bank loans your money and pays you a portion of the return in the form of a savings interest rate. In essence the bank is just the middle man loaning your money to someone else. There's no creation of new money. It just puts money that would be sitting idle to work.

There's so much misconception about all this due to people looking to criticize the government/fed oversimplying complex policies to sound bites. Putting more money into circulation in the economy doesn't mean money is created. It just means more is being used. There's many policies that effectively create money, like quantitative easing/bond purchasing.

[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you withdraw your $100 the loan doesn't disappear, it still exists. The Bank has $200 on it's balance sheet despite only $100 existing at the start. That money got created.

[–] Astroturfed@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Except the bank has far more than $100 and the amount of money they have to loan goes down $100. So rhere's now $100 less on their balance sheet. Don't worry, your definitely right. I'll just pretend I didn't take multiple money and banking college courses so you can have this one. Clearly your made up bullshit win.

I'm going to start holding onto my friends money and making loans with most of it. Then I'll get to keep the magic money that appears. I bet it will just fly out of my asshole.