美國是如何「變」出錢來的：英語精讀講義

Every hour of every day, this government facility in Washington DC turns paper into money.

每天的每個小時，這個位於華盛頓特區的政府設施都在將紙張變成金錢。

In order to keep up with demand, 講解

為了跟上需求，

these machines are running 24/7,

這些機器全天候運轉，

pumping out more than $500 million into the US economy every day. 片語動詞

每天向美國經濟注入超過5億美元。

But this is only a tiny fraction of how much money is really made.

但這只是實際創造的貨幣中極小的一部分。

Most of our money exists digitally,

我們大部分的錢都以數位形式存在，

and this number currently goes up by more than $4 billion every day.

而這個數字目前每天增加超過40億美元。

But where does all of this money come from?

但是這些錢都是從哪裡來的呢？

Before it ever reached your bank account,

在它到達你的銀行帳戶之前，

it changed hands countless times, 慣用語

它已經轉手了無數次，

passing through people, governments, and businesses,

穿梭於個人、政府和企業之間，

all after being simply typed into existence on a computer. 文法

而這一切都只是在電腦上透過敲擊鍵盤創造出來的。

We modeled the entire thing to show you how money really works

我們對整個過程進行了建模，向你展示貨幣究竟是如何運作的，

and how it drives the country, inflates prices,

以及它是如何驅動國家、推高物價，

and ultimately puts you in debt. 片語搭配

並最終讓你負債的。

But in order to fully understand how we got to this point,

但是為了完全理解我們是如何走到這一步的，

we need to go back to a time before money.

我們需要回到貨幣出現之前的時代。

If a farmer thousands of years ago needed a new tool,

如果幾千年前的一位農民需要一件新工具，

he'd go to the local toolmaker to buy one.

他會去當地的工具製造商那裡買一件。

The farmer didn't have anything to give him in return,

農民沒有東西可以作為回報給他，

so instead, they both just agreed that he owed him something in the future.

所以他們倆只是達成協議，農民在未來欠他一些東西。

Because the toolmaker trusted the farmer,

因為工具製造商信任這位農民，

his promise of future value was an acceptable form of payment.

農民對未來價值的承諾便成為一種可接受的支付方式。

Sure enough, 2 weeks later, 表達脈絡

果然，兩週後，

the farmer came back and gave him some food from his farm.

農民回來了，並給了他一些自家農場產的食物。

To make transactions easier,

為了讓交易更方便，

people started to pay using more commonly used items like cattle, grain, and salt.

人們開始使用更常用的物品進行支付，比如牛、穀物和鹽。

Everyone needed these things,

每個人都需要這些東西，

but they were hard to come by, and that's what made them valuable. 慣用語

但它們很難獲得，這正是它們具有價值的原因。

The farmer could now buy a tool and pay for it right away

現在農民可以立刻買下工具並付款，

using a precise amount of grain that seemed like a fair exchange.

使用的是一種看起來像是公平交換的確切數量的穀物。

This made transactions quicker,

這使得交易變得更快，

and both parties would leave with something valuable to them.

而且雙方離開時都能得到對他們有價值的東西。

But eventually, the demand for trade was too much,

但最終，貿易的需求太大了，

and paying with a random mix of bulky objects wasn't good enough.

用各種笨重物品混合支付的方式已經不夠好了。

People eventually settled on using metal coins, like gold and silver, 片語動詞

人們最終決定使用金屬硬幣，比如金和銀，

since they were small, extremely valuable, and would last forever,

因為它們體積小、極具價值，並且可以永久保存，

unlike cattle or grain.

不像牛或穀物那樣。

Suddenly, trade around the world opened up,

突然之間，世界各地的貿易開放了，

and things were being bought and sold all the way from China to Europe. 片語搭配

物品從中國一路買賣到歐洲。

But traveling with so much gold became heavy and dangerous.

但是帶著這麼多黃金旅行變得沉重而危險。

This was when the whole idea of money started to change.

正是在這個時候，貨幣的整個概念開始發生變化。

In 17th century London,

在17世紀的倫敦，

trusted goldsmiths started to take in people's gold coins,

值得信賴的金匠開始接收人們的金幣，

promising to look after them for a small fee. 片語動詞

承諾只需收取少量費用就替他們保管。

In return,

作為回報，

they would give the customer a piece of paper,

他們會給客戶一張紙，

a promise note, that allowed them to retrieve their gold at any time.

也就是一張允許他們隨時取回黃金的期票。

The key to this piece of paper

這張紙的關鍵在於，

was that the customer could go to any goldsmith in any town and claim back that exact amount of gold.

客戶可以去任何城鎮的任何金匠那裡，要求取回等量的黃金。

The paper itself had no intrinsic value, 用詞

這張紙本身沒有內在價值，

but it became as good as gold. 慣用語

但它變得和黃金一樣好用。

The notes were so convenient 文法

這些期票非常方便，

that people started simply exchanging them to buy and sell things.

以至於人們開始直接交換它們來買賣東西。

The goldsmiths realized that most people weren't actually coming to retrieve their gold,

金匠們意識到，大多數人實際上並沒有來取回他們的黃金，

and so they started loaning out fake promise notes to customers,

因此，他們開始向客戶借出偽造的承諾期票，

instant money that had to be paid back with interest, 片語動詞

這成了必須帶息償還的即時貨幣，

making the goldsmiths a small profit.

讓金匠們賺取了小額利潤。

This was fake money that didn't actually come out of their gold supply.

這是偽造的錢，並沒有真正從他們的黃金儲備中扣除。

If a goldsmith loaned out 100 coins,

如果金匠借出100枚硬幣，

they wouldn't become 100 coins poorer.

他們並不會因此損失100枚硬幣。

They'd simply write the customer a fake note that was worth 100 coins,

他們只需給客戶寫一張價值100枚硬幣的假期票，

which could be spent anywhere.

這些期票可以在任何地方消費。

Eventually,

最終，

the customer would pay back the loan plus the fee,

客戶會償還貸款和利息，

making the goldsmith 105 coins richer.

讓金匠多賺了105枚硬幣。

On top of that, 表達脈絡

除此之外，

the customer would spend their money by paying someone for goods,

客戶會花掉這些錢向別人購買商品，

making them richer.

讓其他人也變得更富有。

From that single loan,

僅從這一筆貸款中，

the total money in existence increased by 100 coins,

存在的貨幣總額就增加了100枚硬幣，

yet no new coins were produced.

然而卻沒有生產出新的硬幣。

This meant that more money was in people's hands than actually existed.

這意味著人們手中的錢比實際存在的還要多。

As long as everyone didn't come to cash in their notes at the same time, 講解

只要大家不是在同一時間來兌現他們的期票，

everything would be fine.

一切就會相安無事。

If we replace the goldsmiths with banks 文法

如果我們將金匠替換為銀行，

and the promise notes with digital money,

並將承諾期票替換為數位貨幣，

we have today's system of money.

我們得到的便是今天的貨幣體系。

Nowadays,

如今，

almost everything is bought and sold digitally.

幾乎所有東西都是透過數位方式買賣的。

But did you know that data brokers buy and sell your own personal data?

但你知道數據仲介正在買賣你的個人數據嗎？

This could be used against you for things like scams, identity theft, stalking, and harassment.

這些可能被用來對付你，比如詐騙、身分盜竊、跟蹤和騷擾。

On top of that,

最重要的是，

when marketing agencies get a hold of your data,

當行銷機構掌握了你的數據時，

they start sending you a never-ending supply of spam.

他們就會開始給你發送源源不斷的垃圾郵件。

The good news is that you have the right to protect and remove your personal info.

好消息是，你有權保護並刪除你的個人資訊。

All you need to do is sign up with DeleteMe today's sponsor,

你只需註冊今天的贊助商 DeleteMe，

and they start searching and removing your personal details from hundreds of data brokers.

他們就會開始從數百個數據仲介那裡搜尋並刪除你的個人詳細資訊。

You'll get a breakdown of how much data has been removed

你會得到一份明細，說明刪除了多少數據

and where it has been removed from.

以及從哪裡刪除的。

DeleteMe will work continually throughout the year to keep your data away from these data brokers.

DeleteMe 將在全年持續工作，讓你的數據遠離這些數據仲介。

They also have a family plan to protect your loved ones from the same problems.

他們還提供家庭方案，保護你的親人免受同樣問題的困擾。

To remove your data and protect yourself,

要刪除你的數據並保護自己，

visit joindeleteme.com/space

請造訪 joindeleteme.com/space

and use the code space at checkout to get 20% off.

並在結帳時使用代碼 space，即可享受20%的折扣。

When the 17th century goldsmiths started handing out fake money,

當17世紀的金匠開始發放假錢時，

it had a profound effect on the economy. 片語搭配

它對經濟產生了深遠的影響。

Before, no new money could enter the system,

在此之前，沒有新貨幣能進入這個系統，

and so the money that did exist was simply passed around in a cycle

所以現存的錢只是在一個循環中傳遞，

whenever a transaction was made.

每當發生交易時就流轉一次。

But this system had a major flaw.

但是這個系統有一個重大缺陷。

Imagine a group of four people who have a total of $100 between them.

想像一個四人小組，他們之間總共有100美元。

If person one pays person two for some food,

如果第一個人為了買食物付錢給第二個人，

it moves the money around,

這會使錢流動起來，

making it uneven.

讓分布變得不平均。

Then person two pays person four for a service,

然後第二個人為了某項服務付錢給第四個人，

and the money moves again.

錢再次流動。

Note that every time money is passed around, 表達脈絡

注意，每一次錢的流轉，

value is made and productivity grows.

價值就被創造出來，生產力也隨之增長。

But eventually,

但最終，

the money supply becomes uneven and less people can participate,

貨幣供應會變得不平衡，能參與的人變少，

slowing down trade and reducing productivity.

從而減緩貿易並降低生產力。

This system only works if everyone pays each other the exact same amount at the exact same time, 文法

這個系統只有在每個人在同一時間互相支付完全相同金額的情況下才有效，

something that is impossible in the real world.

這在現實世界中是不可能的。

By adding more money into the system, 文法

透過向系統中添加更多的貨幣，

it speeds up the economy, 片語動詞

它加速了經濟發展，

allowing businesses to grow,

讓企業能夠成長，

products to be made,

產品得以被製造，

and ultimately,

並最終，

advances our civilization.

推動了我們文明的進步。

And so,

因此，

a constant flow of new money is crucial in our current system.

源源不斷的新貨幣流入在我們現行的系統中至關重要。

But how is this actually done?

但這究竟是如何做到的呢？

We think of banks as places that store our money and keep it safe, 文法

我們把銀行視為儲存我們的錢並保持其安全的地方，

but that's not really what's going on. 片語動詞

但事實並非如此。

When you give a bank your money,

當你把錢給銀行時，

they are in debt to you. 片語搭配

他們就欠了你的債。

The numbers you see in your bank account aren't real wads of cash sitting in a vault. 用詞

你在銀行帳戶裡看到的數字並不是躺在金庫裡一疊疊的真實鈔票。

They're simply promise notes showing that the bank owes you money

它們只是承諾期票，表明銀行欠你錢，

and you can claim it back whenever you want.

並且你可以隨時要求拿回這筆錢。

A loan is the exact same, 表達脈絡

貸款也是完全一樣的，

but in the opposite direction.

只不過方向相反。

When banks lend us money,

當銀行向我們借錢時，

we are in debt to them,

我們就欠了他們的債，

and we have to pay them back.

並且我們必須償還。

This is where money really gets made.

這就是錢真正被創造出來的地方。

Just like the goldsmiths,

就像那些金匠一樣，

when a bank gives out a loan,

當銀行發放貸款時，

they don't get poorer.

他們並沒有變窮。

They simply type new money into your bank account.

他們只是在你的銀行帳戶裡輸入新的金額。

It's brand new money that didn't exist before.

那是以前不存在的全新貨幣。

The only difference is that when you pay it back,

唯一的區別是，當你償還它時，

the money gets cancelled out

這筆錢被註銷了，

and the bank only keeps the interest.

而銀行只留下了利息。

But with that loan,

但有了這筆貸款，

you paid for a new car,

你付錢買了一輛新車，

and that money eventually made its way to the employees of the dealership. 慣用語

這筆錢最終流入了汽車經銷商員工的手中。

Then,

然後，

they spent that money,

他們花掉了那筆錢，

and it continued to create hundreds of new transactions,

它繼續創造了數百筆新的交易，

powering businesses, creating new technologies,

推動企業發展，創造新技術，

and providing us with food.

並為我們提供食物。

All of this value and productivity would never have happened if new money hadn't entered the system. 文法

如果沒有新貨幣進入系統，所有這些價值和生產力都不會發生。

The problem is that productivity doesn't necessarily increase when we create new money, 文法

問題在於，當我們創造新貨幣時，生產力並不一定隨之增加，

and that can cause inflation.

這就可能引發通貨膨脹。

If society starts producing fewer goods, 文法

如果社會開始生產更少的商品，

but more money is added into the system,

但卻有更多的錢被添加到系統中，

prices will go up,

物價就會上漲，

since there is more competition for fewer goods.

因為會有更多的錢在競爭更少的商品。

Because of this,

正因為如此，

banks have to limit how much money they create.

銀行必須限制他們創造多少貨幣。

In the past,

在過去，

they could only lend out a portion of the actual cash they had in their backup supply.

他們只能將備用資金中的一部分實際現金貸出去。

Nowadays,

然而如今，

though,

雖然，

banks have almost complete freedom to create as much money as they like. 文法

銀行幾乎擁有隨心所欲創造貨幣的完全自由。

If they are running low on backup money, 片語動詞

如果他們的備用資金不夠了，

they can simply go to the central bank and ask for more money.

他們可以簡單地去中央銀行要求更多的錢。

And that's where things get ridiculous.

這就讓事情變得荒謬了。

To create new money,

為了創造新貨幣，

the government creates a bond, 文化背景

政府會發行一種債券，

which is essentially a loan that provides a steady income.

這本質上是一筆提供穩定收入的貸款。

Banks, corporations, and foreign countries buy these bonds from the US government,

銀行、企業和外國從美國政府購買這些債券，

and this influx of money goes toward the government's budget. 片語動詞

這筆資金的流入就進入了政府的預算。

The government uses this money to pay companies and people,

政府用這筆錢向公司和個人付款，

and it eventually makes its way back to the banks.

它最終又回到了銀行。

The problem is,

問題是，

the US government almost always spends more money than it makes,

美國政府幾乎總是入不敷出，

so it is constantly in debt to those that buy bonds.

所以它不斷地對那些購買債券的人負債。

In order to pay for that debt,

為了償還這筆債務，

it uses the taxpayers' money.

它使用了納稅人的錢。

Last year,

去年，

the government spent almost $7 trillion,

政府花費了將近7兆美元，

but your tax money wasn't enough to pay for this,

但你們的稅款不足以支付這筆費用，

and so the government had to create new bonds to receive more money,

所以政府不得不創造新的債券以獲取更多資金，

putting it further in debt,

使其陷入更深的債務，

and the cycle continues.

並且這個循環還在繼續。

As crazy as it sounds, 文法

儘管聽起來很瘋狂，

this system of adding more money through debt is how most of the world operates.

但世界上大多數地方都是透過債務增加貨幣的這種系統來運作的。

It isn't necessarily a bad system.

這不一定是個糟糕的系統。

It's just not running anywhere near maximum efficiency. 慣用語

它只是運轉效率遠未達到最高點。

If banks created money for more productive things,

如果銀行為了更具生產力的事物創造貨幣，

like businesses, education, and infrastructure,

比如企業、教育和基礎設施，

all of this money going into the system could give us higher returns in the long run. 慣用語

那麼從長遠來看，流入系統的所有這些錢能給我們帶來更高的回報。

And now,

現在，

time for the Primal Space giveaway.

是 Primal Space 的抽獎時間了。

The winner of the previous giveaway is Kristen.

上次抽獎的贏家是 Kristen。

Congrats.

恭喜你。

In the next video,

在下期影片中，

we'll be giving away this space shuttle LEGO set to one lucky winner.

我們將把這套太空梭樂高玩具送給一位幸運贏家。

All you need to do is sign up at the link below,

你只需要透過下方的連結註冊，

like the video,

按讚這支影片，

and leave a comment saying which part of the money system shocks you the most.

並留言說出貨幣系統中哪一部分最讓你感到震驚。

Thank you very much for watching,

非常感謝你的收看，

and I'll see you in the next video.

我們下期影片再見。