Really cool chart showing the dollar’s purchasing power over a 150 plus year span.
pull down to refresh
275 sats \ 4 replies \ @freetx 3 Dec
Really depends on how you calculate these things....there are 3 mains ways: (a) official/semi-official inflation data, (b) silver, (c) gold.
I think silver is actually the best, because up until 1965 it was in nearly all the coins. Since it was in actual circulation (unlike just a 'gold backing') therefore its scarcity effects could be assumed to have impacted prices.
$1 coin(s) = .85 oz/silver
Therefore 4 cents = .034 oz /silver
Current silver price is $58/oz, therefore 4 cents = $1.97
reply
109 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 3 Dec
The problem with silver is that it’s value is primarily industrial rather than monetary and there are a bunch of uses for silver in technology that didn’t exist back then.
reply
173 sats \ 1 reply \ @freetx 3 Dec
Maybe, but it has risen far less than gold since 1971. Up until 71' by decree the ratio was 1/35 - now the ratio (in prices) is 1/72.
Silvers 'industrial demand' has been far offset by its demonetization .... it seems that its biggest use was "coinage" before and that far outweighed its current industrial demand.
reply
50 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 3 Dec
It’s fair to note the offsetting factors but being subject to such fundamental changes in demand makes it suspect as a steady measure of value.
Gold has basically just been valued as a store of value the whole time and it actually helps that it wasn’t heavily used in exchange because that didn’t change radically.
reply
31 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 3 Dec
You're right. If you are going to compare it to gold and silver the decline in purchasing power will definitely be even worse.
reply
40 sats \ 3 replies \ @BlokchainB 3 Dec
I hate these charts. It was a different world between now and then.
reply
52 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby OP 3 Dec
Different world but don't change the fact that people are getting poorer holding dollars.
reply
40 sats \ 1 reply \ @BlokchainB 3 Dec
But people live leaps and bounds better today than in 1870 and it’s not even close
reply
58 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 3 Dec
That is most certainly true.
reply
50 sats \ 3 replies \ @Wumbo 3 Dec
Posted image encase other Stackers having trouble seeing image.
reply
0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Wulby78 3 Dec
thanks.
Why can't I see the image in the post? It just says "show full tweet" and is just loading.
reply
0 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 3 Dec
That's odd. Not sure.
reply
0 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 3 Dec
Thanks.
reply
40 sats \ 0 replies \ @0xbitcoiner 3 Dec
The 7-Stage Cycle: How Every Reserve Currency Collapses (Dollar = Stage 5) #1279186
reply
1693 sats \ 0 replies \ @nitter 3 Dec
https://xcancel.com/greenbackd/status/1996287158647472349
reply