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What Is Money? An Institutional and Economic Definition

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Institutional structure of money Introduction: Why Defining Money Is More Difficult Than It Appears Money is one of the most familiar elements of everyday life, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood concepts in economics and social science. People use money constantly—to buy goods, pay wages, store savings, settle debts—without ever questioning what money actually is. This familiarity creates a dangerous illusion: the belief that money is simple, self-evident, and naturally occurring. In reality, money is neither obvious nor natural. It is a complex institutional system embedded deeply within legal frameworks, political authority, social trust, and economic coordination. At a surface level, money is often described using functional definitions. Textbooks commonly state that money is “anything that serves as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value.” While this description is not incorrect, it is incomplete. It explains what money does, but not what money i...

What is Blockchain Technology? A Simple Guide for Beginners

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What is Blockchain Technology  Executive Summary Blockchain technology is a digital system designed to record, verify, and preserve information in a way that minimizes the need for trust between participants. Unlike traditional databases, where data is stored and controlled by a single authority, blockchain distributes records across a network of independent computers. This structural change alters how trust, verification, and control function in digital systems. At its core, blockchain is a distributed ledger. A ledger is simply a record book—historically used to track transactions, ownership, or balances. Blockchain transforms this concept into a digital, shared, and cryptographically secured ledger that is maintained collectively rather than centrally. Every participant in the network can verify records independently, reducing reliance on intermediaries such as banks, clearing houses, or centralized platforms. Blockchain technology first gained global attention through cryptocur...