<p>High-powered money is another term for the monetary base or MB.  MB represents all money created by the government.  However, that is not all the only source of money.  Banks are allowed to create money too.  Which is why higher aggregates like M2 and M3 are greater than MB.</p>

<p>Because bank money is greater than government money, it (and not MB) is more of a primary determinant to monetary inflation.  Pretend there is an economy of blue dollars and yellow dollars.  The blue are created by the government and the yellow by banks.  There are many more yellow dollars than blue dollars.  So when the supply of blue dollars goes up it doesn't matter as much because of the number of yellow dollars.</p>

<p>Bank money was being destroyed in the crisis which was actually creating deflationary pressures.  The collapse in higher monetary aggregates was offset somewhat by the surge in the monetary base.  </p>

<p>Now typically base money is used to create and leverage higher aggregates, but this was not the case during the crisis.  Because of liquidity concerns, banks curtailed monetary creation so this is why inflation did not happen.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-10T07:49:34.183Z
Thanks for your answer. Could you please elaborate on how banks are able to create money? What type? are  there limits to it? etc. Thanks ;)
An old man in the sea.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-10T12:24:23.767Z
@Anoldmaninthesea. http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Documents/quarterlybulletin/2014/qb14q1prereleasemoneycreation.pdf
Anton Tarasenko
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-10T13:44:15.303Z
@AntonTarasenko Impressive resource. Thanks ;)
An old man in the sea.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-10T18:30:53.203Z
Banks are able to create money by promising more in deposits then they have on hand.  They can do this, because most depositors don't verify that banks actually have their money on hand and trusts them.  It started when gold smiths would issue claim slips on gold, which were easier to trade than actual gold.  The gold smiths noticed that on average the receipts weren't redeemed so issued more than they had.  Banking is the same thing.  If you google "fractional banking gold", you will see some good links.  FRB is problematic though as it can cause inflation and bank runs (& bailouts).
user2662680
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-11T08:11:19.467Z
User2662680, I think if you added this last comment to your answer, it would make your answer much more complete. ;)
An old man in the sea.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-15T13:36:49.470Z
I would maybe also add a hint to the fact that, nowadays, central banks are considering using negative interest rates and 'helicopter money' as a new tool to create inflation !
Alexis L.
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2020-05-08T15:26:24.237Z
@Amanda why not ask a new question ?
keepAlive
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2020-05-25T01:45:23.110Z
When credit starts to be lent out again by banks at previous levels once the economy recovers _and_ the money printed by the Fed is still in existence but productivity hasn't increased though, at this point it should result in inflation?
Adam Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-10T00:48:40.780Z
2016-02-10T00:48:40.780Z
user2662680
<p>Quantitative Easing (QE) is the buying of bonds and other financial assets by the Central Bank with high-powered money, or money created by the CB for this purpose. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Isn't this ad-hoc creation of money  the main ingredient for hyperinflation? </p></li>
<li><p>Why hasn't there been a surge in inflation?</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-16T05:50:03.710Z
Because it only inflated the wealth of financial elites
D J Sims
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-16T15:41:58.177Z
@Mustang any studies on that?
An old man in the sea.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-16T18:50:22.960Z
Sure http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonhartley/2015/06/25/how-federal-reserve-quantitative-easing-expanded-wealth-inequality/#5a1d241d116c
D J Sims
<central-banking><quantitative-easing>
Why hasn't Quantitative Easing surged inflation, or caused hyperinflation?
An old man in the sea.
# Why hasn't Quantitative Easing surged inflation, or caused hyperinflation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-09)

Quantitative Easing (QE) is the buying of bonds and other financial assets by the Central Bank with high-powered money, or money created by the CB for this purpose.

1. Isn't this ad-hoc creation of money the main ingredient for hyperinflation?
2. Why hasn't there been a surge in inflation?

**Tags:** central-banking, quantitative-easing
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Because it only inflated the wealth of financial elites  
> **username_0**: @Mustang any studies on that?  
> **username_1**: Sure http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonhartley/2015/06/25/how-federal-reserve-quantitative-easing-expanded-wealth-inequality/#5a1d241d116c  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-02-10. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

High-powered money is another term for the monetary base or MB. MB represents all money created by the government. However, that is not all the only source of money. Banks are allowed to create money too. Which is why higher aggregates like M2 and M3 are greater than MB.

Because bank money is greater than government money, it (and not MB) is more of a primary determinant to monetary inflation. Pretend there is an economy of blue dollars and yellow dollars. The blue are created by the government and the yellow by banks. There are many more yellow dollars than blue dollars. So when the supply of blue dollars goes up it doesn't matter as much because of the number of yellow dollars.

Bank money was being destroyed in the crisis which was actually creating deflationary pressures. The collapse in higher monetary aggregates was offset somewhat by the surge in the monetary base.

Now typically base money is used to create and leverage higher aggregates, but this was not the case during the crisis. Because of liquidity concerns, banks curtailed monetary creation so this is why inflation did not happen.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for your answer. Could you please elaborate on how banks are able to create money? What type? are  there limits to it? etc. Thanks ;)  
> **username_3**: @Anoldmaninthesea. http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Documents/quarterlybulletin/2014/qb14q1prereleasemoneycreation.pdf  
> **username_0**: @AntonTarasenko Impressive resource. Thanks ;)  
> **username_2**: Banks are able to create money by promising more in deposits then they have on hand.  They can do this, because most depositors don't verify that banks actually have their money on hand and trusts them.  It started when gold smiths would issue claim slips on gold, which were easier to trade than actual gold.  The gold smiths noticed that on average the receipts weren't redeemed so issued more than they had.  Banking is the same thing.  If you google "fractional banking gold", you will see some good links.  FRB is problematic though as it can cause inflation and bank runs (& bailouts).  
> **username_0**: User2662680, I think if you added this last comment to your answer, it would make your answer much more complete. ;)  
> **username_4**: I would maybe also add a hint to the fact that, nowadays, central banks are considering using negative interest rates and 'helicopter money' as a new tool to create inflation !  
> **username_5**: @Amanda why not ask a new question ?  
> **username_6**: When credit starts to be lent out again by banks at previous levels once the economy recovers _and_ the money printed by the Fed is still in existence but productivity hasn't increased though, at this point it should result in inflation?  

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