Price-Specie-Flow Mechanism and Automatic Trade Balancing Under the Gold Standard

The Price-Specie-Flow Mechanism The price-specie-flow (PSF) mechanism is the extension of the quantity theory of money (QTM) to a multi-country scenario. Proponents of the end-neutrality of QTM often implicitly assume a closed economy. But when nations trade amongst each other, the injection of monetary units in a nation can, instead of putting upward pressure on local prices, promote imports, and thus cause an outflow of money, in the short term. The price-specie-flow mechanism accounts for these dynamics. ...

June 28, 2026 · 586 words

Quantity Theory of Money

Statement The level of prices depend on the quantity of money. Early discussions on this matter can be found in the essays of John Locke, David Hume and Irving Fisher (see Reference). Discussion Provided that the item used as money can be divided and combined as necessary, any amount of money is sufficient for running an economy. Ideas about bringing lasting changes to an economy by expanding the money supply are invalid. Should the money supply increase, all else equal, the prices of goods and services would increase proportionately. Thus, the outcome would ultimately be neutral. ...

June 27, 2026 · 524 words