If you're new to finance, you might have heard of M1 and M2, but not be entirely sure what they mean. M1 is the total amount of money circulating in an economy, including cash, coins, and checking accounts.
M1 is a key indicator of a country's money supply, and it's often used by central banks to assess the overall health of the economy.
To understand the difference between M1 and M2, let's break down what M2 is. M2 is a broader measure of the money supply that includes M1, as well as savings accounts, money market funds, and other types of deposits.
Additional reading: M2 Slots
What is M1 and M2 Finance
M1 and M2 finance are two types of money supply that are closely monitored by policy makers and the central government. M1 is a narrow form of money supply that includes different forms of currencies, demand deposits, and withdrawals through checks, credit cards, electronic transfers, and traveller's checks.
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The components of M1 are more liquid than those of M2, making it a more immediate measure of a country's economic condition. M2, on the other hand, is a broader form of money supply that includes M1 components plus savings and time deposits, mutual funds, and other forms of money that can be easily converted to M1.
Here's a comparison of the two:
- M1 is a narrower form of money supply, while M2 is a broader form.
- M1 includes currencies, demand deposits, and withdrawals, while M2 includes M1 components plus savings and time deposits, mutual funds, etc.
- M1 components are more liquid than M2 components.
- M2 gives a broader outlook on the supply of money in the economy, covering many sources that can be easily converted to M1 type of asset.
Both M1 and M2 money supplies are used to assess the inflation rate and make decisions related to monetary policy. The choice of which measure to use depends on the objective and analysis done by the government.
M1 Finance
M1 Finance is a digital investment platform that allows users to create a portfolio of stocks and ETFs with a "pie" system, where each investment is a slice of the pie.
It offers a range of investment options, including individual stocks, ETFs, and index funds, with no management or trading fees.
M1 Finance's pie system allows users to create a portfolio that matches their financial goals and risk tolerance.
Users can set a target allocation for each investment and M1 Finance will automatically rebalance the portfolio to maintain the target allocation.
M1 Finance also offers a feature called "M1 Plus" which provides additional benefits such as improved investment returns and access to a financial advisor.
The platform is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to investors of all levels, with a clean and intuitive interface.
M1 Finance has gained popularity among investors due to its low fees and flexibility in creating a customized portfolio.
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M2 Finance
M2 Finance is the broader category of financial assets that includes M1, but also adds other financial instruments such as money market instruments, commercial paper, and other short-term debt securities.
M2 Finance encompasses a wider range of financial assets than M1, with a total value of around $16 trillion in the United States alone.
The addition of money market instruments in M2 Finance allows for more flexibility in the economy, enabling businesses and individuals to access funds for short-term needs.
This flexibility is crucial for economic growth, as it enables businesses to invest in new projects and individuals to cover unexpected expenses.
M2 Finance also includes commercial paper, which is a type of short-term debt security that allows companies to raise funds by issuing debt to investors.
The inclusion of commercial paper in M2 Finance provides a liquid market for companies to access funds quickly and efficiently.
In contrast to M1, which only includes coins and currency, M2 Finance is a more comprehensive measure of the money supply, reflecting the broader range of financial assets in circulation.
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Comparison
The M1 and M2 money supply are two different measures of the money circulating in an economy. M1 is a more narrow form of supply of money, while M2 is a more broad form of money supply.
The main difference between M1 and M2 is the components they include. M1 includes different forms of currencies, demand deposits, and withdrawals through checks, credit cards, electronic transfer, and traveller's checks. M2, on the other hand, includes the M1 components plus savings and time deposits, mutual funds, etc.
Here's a comparison of the two:
- M1 is more liquid than M2, meaning its components can be easily converted into cash.
- M2 gives a broader outlook about the supply of money in the economy and covers many sources that can be easily converted to M1 type of asset.
- M2 is a more comprehensive measure of money supply, including both M1 and other types of deposits and investments.
Policy makers and central governments use both M1 and M2 to monitor and evaluate the economic condition of a country, helping them assess the inflation rate and make decisions related to monetary policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between M1 M2 and M3?
M1, M2, and M3 are three key measures of money supply, with M1 being the narrowest (cash and overnight deposits), M2 adding longer-term deposits, and M3 including additional financial instruments like repurchase agreements and money market funds
Sources
- https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-macroeconomics/chapter/measuring-money-currency-m1-and-m2/
- https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-macroeconomics/chapter/measuring-money-currency-m1-and-m2/
- https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/principlesofmacroeconomicscdn/chapter/10-3-measuring-money-m1-and-m2/
- https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/m1-money-supply/
- https://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/uhmacrointeractive/chapter/measuring-money-currency-m1-and-m2/
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