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Comment by pjc50

2 hours ago

> The existence of credit itself is what causes monetary instability, and without credit the world would look very different.

Indeed. Credit is money; ultimately anyone can expand the money supply with an IOU.

Money is destroyed when a loan is paid back. Private credit does not expand the monetary supply permanently. Only the state can increase the money supply.

  • You are neglecting interest paid. It doesn't matter who issues the credit - the Medici family or the US Federal Reserve.