Money Creation by Banking System
In modern economies, the banking system plays a crucial role in money creation, primarily through deposit acceptance and lending practices. When individuals deposit money into a bank, the bank does not simply store this money; instead, it uses part of these deposits to make loans to borrowers. Each loan creates new deposits, effectively increasing the overall money supply in the economy. This process reflects the concept of the money multiplier, which quantifies the maximum amount of money that can be created with a given amount of reserves, assuming certain reserve requirements are adhered to.
For example, if a bank has a required reserve ratio (CRR) set by the central bank (such as the Reserve Bank of India), it must retain a specified percentage of deposits as reserves. The remaining portion can be loaned out, which subsequently gets deposited back into the banking system, allowing for further loans and deposit creation. Therefore, a single initial deposit can lead to a significant increase in total money supply due to this multiplied effect. The section outlines the intricate balance banks must maintain between loaning out funds and meeting reserve requirements, ensuring financial stability while facilitating economic growth.