ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the origins of money, monetary systems, monetary issues, and the measures of value of the economy. Within the global market, three main monetary issues have a dramatic effect on the overall market itself. In a market system, individuals or organizations trade in order to benefit or realize profit from the exchange. Money is any medium universally accepted in an economy both by sellers of goods and services as payment for those goods and services and by creditors as payment for debts. Money originated largely from non-economic causes such as tribute, as well as from trade, bride-money, ceremonial, and religious rites and barter. A special case in international monetary and financial markets is the European Monetary Union (EMU). The European Union originated due to the effects of the Second World War. The largest stock exchanges are the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
