Class 10 Chapter 3rd Money And Credit

Topic – Money as a Medium of Exchange



Definition Of Money

  • Money can be defined as anything that is generally accepted as a means of exchange and at the same time act as a measure and store of value.
  • Money acts as an intermediate in the exchange process and therefore it is called a medium of exchange.
  • The main function of money in the economic system is to facilitate the exchange of goods and services.


Money as a medium of exchange

  • ·         The use of money spans a very large part of our everyday life.
  • ·         Several transactions involving money are made in any single day.
  • ·         Goods are being bought and sold with the use of money.
  • ·         Services are being exchanged with money.
  • ·         Goods are also bought with a promise to pay money later.
  • ·         As the need for a medium of exchange became a necessity different materials were used as a medium of exchange.


Barter System


  • In a barter system, commodities are exchanged with commodities without the use of money.
  • But both parties have to agree to sell and buy each other’s commodities,
  • This is called double coincidence of wants.
  • Money eliminates the need of double coincidence of wants.



Problem of double coincidence of wants

  • ·         In the olden days, when modern currency was not in vogue, people had to sell and buy each other’s commodities. This was called the barter system.For instance if a shoe manufacturer wants to buy wheat, he has to find a farmer who wants to buy shoes in exchange for the wheat.
  • ·         Both parties have to agree to sell and buy each other’s commodities. This is known as double coincidence of wants.
  • ·         In a barter system where goods are directly exchanged without the use of money, double coincidence of wants is an essential feature.