What is Deflation and What Causes it to Occur?

DEFINING INFLATION AND DEFLATION Webster's says, "Inflation is an increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods," and "Deflation is a contraction in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods." To understand inflation and deflation, we have to understand the terms money and credit. DEFINING MONEY AND CREDIT Money is a socially accepted medium of exchange, value storage and final payment. A specified amount of that medium also …

…The rest of it just disappears. You see, he never really had a million dollars; all he had was IOUs or stock certificates. The idea that it had a certain financial value was in his head and the heads of others who agreed. When the point of agreement changed, so did the value. Poof! Gone in a flash of aggregated neurons. This is exactly what happens to most investment assets in a period of deflation.