I see money as the original gift card. The company (USA) prints a bunch of gift cards. A certain number of these gifts will never be redeemed. Some will go overseas to power dollar based economies, some will be lost, etc.. so there is a profit to the gift card maker for each card that never gets redeemed.
If there are a zillion workers added to the job market each year, the company could print enough gift cards so that each worker has enough money available so that they can each get a fair income for their labor.
It is a great system until a bunch of curmudgeons clustered around a FIRE website start hiding money in jars buried in their yards. Now the supply of money diminishes, prices shoot up and curmudgeons cash in on deflated money. Everyone starts hoarding money. The gift card company says "This isn't working out." "How about if I put out enough gift card papers that it starts inflating slightly. Everyone gets a raise, there is enough money to go around, and those curmudgeons that hoard money will lose value each year giving them incentives to invest money".
Use it or lose it...
If there are a zillion workers added to the job market each year, the company could print enough gift cards so that each worker has enough money available so that they can each get a fair income for their labor.
It is a great system until a bunch of curmudgeons clustered around a FIRE website start hiding money in jars buried in their yards. Now the supply of money diminishes, prices shoot up and curmudgeons cash in on deflated money. Everyone starts hoarding money. The gift card company says "This isn't working out." "How about if I put out enough gift card papers that it starts inflating slightly. Everyone gets a raise, there is enough money to go around, and those curmudgeons that hoard money will lose value each year giving them incentives to invest money".
Use it or lose it...