So what is money? Money is anything that acts as (a) a medium of exchange, (b) a measure of value, (c) a standard that can be used for credit or deferred payment, and (d) a store of value. Early coinage ticked each of these boxes.

Money also has the following properties. Money must be:

• Durable

• Fungible

• Divisible

• Portable

• Acceptable

• Scarce

The world you live in today is a direct outcome of advent of trade — of entrepreneurial humans recognizing that their lives can improve by trading with other groups who possess skills and/or resources that they do not. Making trade more efficient and effective has driven some of the most fundamental tools and advances we take for granted as modern humans.

In this episode of Saturday Morning Muse, Andrew Temte explores the foundational concepts of trade and macroeconomics through a hypothetical economy consisting of two regions: Fruit Land and Protein Land. He discusses the advantages of trade, the impact on societal well-being, and the necessity of education and retraining for those affected by economic changes. The conversation sets the stage for future discussions on currency and deeper economic principles.