Email from: Stephen Williamson
Sent: Wednesday, 18 September 2013 2:02 PM
Subject: Thanks for the chat, Tim :-)

Hi Tim, Hi everyone

Yes, thanks for the chat Tim. Here's that page below, tracking inflation, firstly in Britain, next in the US (in comparison with Australia). I've shared this page before, I've made a few adjustments recently. Appreciate all/any comments

But now with seven billion people in the world, and with all the many, many wealthy ones worldwide who are storing the **$16 trillion in US Treasury notes and bonds as the basis of their current wealth, we are truly in uncharted territory at present.
**$28-$29 trillion in 2021-2022

Numerous prophecies and recommendations, but it's not simple stopping a juggernaut like this, regardless of the experts.

Blessings all :-) Steve

Extract from Forbes on Sep 20th: From QE1- Nov2008 through QE3- Sep2012 as of now the Federal Reserve has increased its balance sheet from $900 billion to **$3.7 trillion today. Here is a primer on the mechanics. The Fed currently purchases $40 billion in mortgage backed securities (private debt) and $45 billion in treasuries (govt bonds) each month. The Fed has no excess money or reserves … so they simply fire up the printing presses and print out of thin air $85 billion of new money each and every month. This is money that goes directly into the money supply. Nobody knows the ultimate denouement of money printing on this scale.
 
**Ended (temporarily) Oct2014 at $4½ trillion

 
But lower interest rates and increased inflation in "more hospitable yield environments" are inevitable.

Click here for the history of money, silver and gold, in scripture.

Click here for more info on today's banks.

Click here for Adam Creighton's recent reappraisal of Keynesian economics

Inflation over the past 2,000 years

where d=denarius or pence or cents, s=shilling (12 pence), £=Libra-pondo (240 pence).

30AD (time of Christ) 1d per day (i.e. one penny for working in a vineyard). It contained about 4 grams of silver and 240 drachma (a mina of 60 shekels) in Israel was thus just under one kilogram or 1/60th of a talent. In Rome the much lighter Libra-pondo of 12 ounces weighed perhaps 329 grams.

By 275 AD, the level of silver in the denarius coin had dropped to zero. In 312 AD, Constantine issued a new gold coin, the solidus, and silver coin, the miliarense, and shifted the Roman capital to Constantinople (now Istanbul) in the east, with merchants being forbidden to use these coins outside the kingdom.

East of the Roman Empire was the Persian Empire, where silver and gold coinage was in abundance from trade with Rome, Arabia, China and India. These were drachma coins, later called dirhams, still with 3 to 3½ grams of silver, and issued from their capital at Ctesiphon, (near ancient Babylon and close to modern day Baghdad). Click here for a brief ten-page history of the world (with hyperlinks) as the Muslim caliphates took power.

And with the lack of access to coinage in the west, numerous trade agreements vanished. Invasions by Goths, Vandals, Huns, Lombards and Vikings followed, capturing slaves which they traded for Eastern silver. But at the same time, decentralised government, manorialism and monasteries sprang up everywhere. In Anglo-Saxon Britain, the standard coin for daily wages became the sceatta, pronounced as "shatter". It had about 1.3 grams of silver, with 20 sceattas i.e. 26 grams being worth one scillinga (pronounced as "shillinga"), or one Roman ounce.

790 AD King Offa of Mercia in England joins forces with Charlemagne in France. With a silver mint having been established at Dorestad on the Rhine with access to a significant quantity of silver, the penny (pfennig) was reintroduced at a set weight of just under 1½ grams of silver, replacing the lighter sceatta. The shilling was revalued to be worth 12 pennies. The standard £ Libra-pondo (later known in England as the Tower-weight or Tower-pound) continued to have 240 pennies, or 20 shillings. It contained about 350 grams or exactly 12 "tower" ounces in silver. The tower system was referenced to a standard prototype found in the Tower of London.

See this page for a family timeline of daily wages from 1261 - 1780.

1261 Tuppence or 2 silver pennies per day. Halfpennies and farthings are also now in production with a proportional level of silver. Note that with the prices for goods on the continent requiring less silver, the level of silver in the penny at times could be reduced to as low as 1.3 grams, though any reduction produced considerable complaints. English coins were much envied in Europe for their weight and good metal content, with English halfpennies being copied on the continent.
For further background to what was happening over there, click here for the gold florin, issued originally from Florence in 1252.

1351 Threepence or 3 silver pennies per day.

1401 Fourpence per day. In 1412, the level of silver in the penny is reduced to about 1.0 gram.

1541 6½d (Sixpence ha'penny) per day, the rise of Protestantism opposed to the Holy Roman Empire, in 1568-1648 the 80 years war between Roman Catholic Spain and its Protestant Dutch provinces, then almost all of Europe, Russia and Turkey in the East joining one side or the other, considerable instability, shortage of labour and silver. In 1544 Henry VIII reduced the content of silver in the penny to one-third, with two-thirds becoming copper. His children Edward, Mary and particularly Elizabeth restored the silver, but to a level of ½ a gram. Many new denominations are introduced: shillings, sixpences and threepences containing 6 grams, 3 grams and 1½ grams of silver respectively. And the crown, a large five shilling piece at 30 grams, based on the troy ounce, competitively weighing slightly more than the newly released Spanish dollar at 27 grams, to become the basis of a coming US dollar click here for further details.

1583 8½d (Eightpence ha'penny) per day. Halfpennies and farthings now become copper in content, and legal tender up to the value of sixpence.

1640 10d (Tenpence) per day

1780 18d (One shilling and sixpence) per day — inflation starts to take off. What with the French seven year war 1756-1763, the American Revolution in 1776, the French Revolution in 1789 and the rise of Napoleon, there is considerable instability, a shortage of labour and silver, with paper money having to be printed to pay government wages and expenses. When pennies do end up getting reminted, their content is now all copper and the basic silver coin becomes the threepence.

1865 Three shillings and ninepence per day click here was the wage for a common labourer in London working a 10 hour day and a six day week.

This period also saw the rise of income tax as a taxation measure. Prior to this, invading a neighbouring country, bribes, extortion, customs duties, sales taxes on certain goods (e.g. alcoholic beverages) and property taxes (based on, say, number of windows) were the main sources of income for governments. Click on each country to see some of its income tax background.
America   Britain   France   Germany   Italy   Russia   Japan   India   China   Australia

Now over to Australia (while tracking US Govt Debt/Investment/Printing of Paper Bonds)

With Australian federation in 1901, each state enacted "early closing time" legislation for shops and factories that set working hours at a maximum of 8 hours per day.

In 1907, the Commonwealth of Australia established the "basic minimum wage" at two pounds and two shillings (42 shillings) per week for unskilled full-time workers, 21 years and older.

In 1910, the Australian pound note and shilling was issued for the first time, pegged to the UK currency. £1 contained 7.32 grams of fine gold and 1 shilling contained about 6 grams of sterling silver. After World War One and the Great Depression of 1929-1930, the peg between our currencies was dropped. In 1931 it was reapplied at 80% of the value of the UK currency. The US dollar contained about 24 grams of silver, and in 1931 £1 UK was valued at about $US5.00, and thus £1 AU was valued at $US4.00.

In 1940, the UK currency devalued against the US to 80% of its value, where £1 UK = $US4.00
In 1949 it devalued to about 70% of that value, where £1 UK = $US2.80.
The Australian currency followed suit and so in 1949, £1 AU was worth $US2.24.
In 1966 ten shillings, the value of our new dollar, was worth $US1.12. Since that time we have either been fixed or floating, in line with the US dollar.

Click here for a second graph, showing the US dollar against the Swiss Franc since WW2. The Franc's stability for many years in relation to gold valued it at 19 US cents after WW1 and at 23 US cents after WW2. In 2020 it is just above par with the US dollar.

Click here to view the following as a separate page

AU Wages Timeline 1788-2023

AU Wages Timeline 1788-2023 compared with US Debt

Australia Basic Wage
Fair Work Commission   Wikipedia
State Library Victoria

Fair Work Australia Youth U16 36.8%   16yrs 47.3%   17yrs 57.8%   18yrs 68.3%   19yrs 82.5%   20yrs 97.7% Adult

US Govt Debt
US Treasury
1788 One shilling and sixpence per day$70 million
1797 During Napoleonic wars UK suspends gold payments until 1821
1835$33 thousand its lowest ever
1865 Farm Labourer two shillings and sixpence per day
Carpenter 10 shillings per day
$2 billion
US suspends gold payments following American Civil War. 1862-1879
1907 Seven shillings per day or £2.2.0 per week
Basic Award to support a "man, his wife, and three children"
$2 billion
1914 During WW1 both UK and Australia suspend gold payments until 1925
1922 £4.10.0 per week with widespread price rises following the First World War
Paper money (i.e. a promise backed by 80 tonnes in gold reserves) had become all the rage following the Australian Notes Act of 1910 enabling banknotes issued via Australian Govt Treasury and cancelling those more fallible banknotes of individual banks
$25 billion, through the enormous expenditure of First World War and the setting up of the League of Nations
1928 £4.9.6 per week$18 billion
1930 £3.1.1 per week during the Great Depression
The 6 day week became a 5½ day (44 hour) week
Australia & UK suspend gold payments
In 1935 the Printers Union wins one week of paid leave
Drops to $16 billion in 1930
then rapidly increases under Roosevelt's "New Deal"
1938 £4.1.0 per week$40 billion
1946 £5.0.0 per week
In 1945 the Annual Holidays Act provides two weeks of paid leave
$250 billion due to WW2, followed by the US setting up United Nations and providing help to West Germany, Japan, South Korea, other economies worldwide
1947 £7.2.0 per week
In 1948 the 5 day week introduced
 
1950 £8.2.0 per week 
1953 £11.16.0 per week with considerable inflation following the Second World War
Between 1951-1955 Qld, NSW and Victoria passed legislation granting 13 weeks long service leave to all employees with 15 years or more service, a benefit unique to Australia
 
1960 £13.16.0 per week$300 billion
1961 £14.8.0 per week
In 1963 Commonwealth Industrial Court adopts three weeks paid leave
 
1966 $32.80 (£16.8.0) per week
In 1966, the AU dollar was launched, worth 10 shillings
 
1967 $40 (£20) per week ($1.00 per hour) 
1969 $54 per week
In October 1968 the minimum hourly wage was $1.35
$350 billion

In 1971, President Nixon cancelled the fixed US dollar to gold exchange rate for central banks since 1934 at US$35 per ounce

Click here for our experience in Australia with Gough Whitlam's "seat of the pants" government Dec 1972 - Nov 1975. Free Universities, Free Medical, wow.

Australia Basic WageUS Govt Debt
1972 $80 per week
In 1974 four weeks paid leave plus 17½% loading
$450 billion
1976 $102 per week
Wages have tripled over 10 years through "stagflation"
$620 billion
1978 $120.80 per week $770 billion
1980 $134.80 per week
In 1983 the 38 hour week introduced
$1 trillion
1987 $178.24 per week  
1990 $214.49 per week$3 trillion
1995 $284.45 per week  
1997 $359.40 per week  
2000 $400.40 per week$6 trillion
2010 $569.90 per week$13 trillion
2020 $753.80 per week$27 trillion
2023 $882.80 per week plus 11% compulsory superannuation according to ABC nearly the highest in the world$31 going on $32 trillion. In Jan 2023 US Treasury technically "bumped up" against $31.4 trillion, the previous limit.

In the US the debt ceiling is currently suspended until Jan 2025, so as not to interfere with the 2024 presidential election.

So in Australia in 2023 $882.80 per week, which becomes $176.56 per day, which is 250 times the seven shillings daily wage of 1907.

A fair increase in inflation over these 116 years. At that 250 fold rate of increase, and accelerating another 53.53 times as this was the acceleration factor over the 4.67 increase that occurred between 1780 and 1907, by 2139 we could all be earning over $1 million per day.

Not bad .

Yes, at these times, may we keep our eye on the Lord. Let our eye be single, having "dove's eyes".

** End of article

Click here to view the following as a separate page

Mammon

Thoughts on Mammon

Mishnaic Hebrew Hamon-accumulation,uproar,disquiet Psa 39:6

Household Wealth (Nett) by Nation in $US

Based on List by UBS and Credit Suisse published in 2023
plus List of countries by number of households

Country ▲▼Households (millions)Household Wealth $US (trillions)Average Wealth $US
US1321401,060,000
China52284161,000
Japan5522400,000
Germany4017425,000
UK2916550,000
France3016533,000
India3001550,000
Canada1511733,000
Italy2511440,000
South Korea2310435,000
Australia10101,000,000
Spain178470,000
Taiwan95555,000
Netherlands85625,000
Mexico345147,000
Switzerland451,250,000
Brazil64462,500
Russia56471,400
*Others (155 countries)937$66 trillion71,200
**Total2300$454 trillion197,000

Debtor and Creditor Nations in $US

Below are two lists based on the IMF List 2022 of debtor and creditor nations by Net international investment position.

According to the IMF, the International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets (bonds, money market or other account holdings, equity stakes and financial derivatives) of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents, or are gold bullion held as reserve assets – and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.
In the US, their assets total $31.632 trillion, and liabilities $47.804 trillion, far ahead of any other economy, a nett figure in the red of $16.172 trillion.

List One - 38 creditor nations

  1. Japan on $3.156 trillion
  2. Germany on $2.902 trillion
  3. China on $2.531 trillion
  4. Hong Kong on $1.761 trillion
  5. Taiwan on $1.371 trillion in 2020 (but no longer reported)
  6. Norway on $1.179 trillion
  7. Singapore on $822 billion
  8. Switzerland on $797 billion
  9. South Korea on $771 billion
  10. Netherlands on $769 billion
  11. Saudi Arabia on $707 billion
  12. Canada on $656 billion
  13. *Russia on $485 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  14. Euro area on $457 billion
  15. Belgium on $341 billion
  16. Denmark on $232 billion
  17. Sweden on $199 billion
  18. Israel on $159 billion
  19. Argentina on $124 billion
  20. Kuwait on $105 billion
  21. Italy on $97 billion
  22. Austria on $84 billion
  23. South Africa on $77 billion
  24. Cayman Islands on $62 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  25. Algeria on $44 billion
  26. Luxembourg on $39 billion
  27. Mauritius on $33 billion
  28. Timor-Leste on $20 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  29. Uzbekistan on $19 billion
  30. Bahrain on $16 billion
  31. Malaysia on $12 billion
  32. Malta on $9 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  33. Iceland on $7 billion
  34. Trinidad and Tobago on $7 billion
  35. Botswana on $5 billion
  36. West Bank and Gaza on $3 billion
  37. Eswatini on $1 billion
  38. Namibia on $1 billion

Totalling $ trillion

*Probably higher. There is a discrepancy of $5.227 trillion between dollars invested by creditor nations, and dollars in debt by debtor nations. Gold reserves, plus SDR reserves in the IMF and the Bank for International Settlements should normally make the creditor total higher. However unregulated Eurobonds — first issued in London in 1963 — with Eurodollars in 2016 estimated at $13 trillion & others may account for this figure. Secrets.


List Two - 99 debtor nations

  1. USA on $16.172 trillion
  2. Spain on $865 billion
  3. Brazil on $796 billion
  4. France on $671 billion
  5. Australia on $634 billion
  6. Ireland on $631 billion
  7. Mexico on $615 billion
  8. India on $400 billion
  9. United Kingdom on $324 billion
  10. Greece on $318 billion
  11. Turkiye on $316 billion
  12. Indonesia on $252 billion
  13. Egypt on $248 billion
  14. Poland on $233 billion
  15. Portugal on $216 billion
  16. Colombia on $179 billion
  17. Pakistan on $133 billion
  18. Romania on $123 billion
  19. New Zealand on $123 billion
  20. Peru on $106 billion
  21. Sudan on $93 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  22. Hungary on $89 billion
  23. Nigeria on $81 billion
  24. Morocco on $78 billion
  25. Bangladesh on $76 billion
  26. Tunisia on $74 billion
  27. Slovakia on $71 billion
  28. Panama on $71 billion
  29. Mozambique on $70 billion
  30. Kazakhstan on $67 billion
  31. Dominican Republic on $63 billion
  32. Kenya on $62 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  33. Czech Republic on $59 billion
  34. Chile on $55 billion
  35. Serbia on $53 billion
  36. Jordan on $52 billion
  37. Mongolia on $42 billion
  38. Philippines on $40 billion
  39. Cambodia on $39 billion
  40. Tanzania on $38 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  41. Costa Rica on $38 billion
  42. Uganda on $28 billion
  43. Zambia on $28 billion
  44. Cyprus on $28 billion
  45. Georgia on $28 billion
  46. Cote d'Ivoire on $27 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  47. Ecuador on $26 billion
  48. Jamaica on $25 billion
  49. Belarus on $24 billion
  50. Ghana on $23 billion
  51. Angola on $22 billion
  52. Thailand on $22 billion
  53. Croatia on $19 billion
  54. Nicaragua on $18 billion
  55. Senegal on $18 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  56. Honduras on $17 billion
  57. El Salvador on $16 billion
  58. Uruguay on $15 billion
  59. Paraguay on $14 billion
  60. Bulgaria on $13 billion
  61. Niger on $13 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  62. Mali on $13 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  63. Latvia on $11 billion
  64. Armenia on $11 billion
  65. Republic of Congo on $9 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  66. North Macedonia on $9 billion
  67. Rwanda on $9 billion
  68. Albania on $9 billion
  69. Bolivia on $9 billion
  70. Eastern Caribbean Currency Union on $9 billion
  71. Kyrgyzstan on $8 billion
  72. Montenegro on $8 billion
  73. Estonia on $8 billion
  74. Malawi on $6 billion in 2021 (unreported in 2022)
  75. Madagascar on $6 billion
  76. Fiji on $6 billion
  77. Moldova on $6 billion
  78. Guatemala on $6 billion
  79. Bosnia and Herzegovina on $6 billion
  80. Lithuania on $5 billion
  81. Finland on $5 billion
  82. Tajikistan on $4 billion
  83. Ukraine on $3 billion
  84. Cabo Verde on $3 billion
  85. Aruba on $3 billion
  86. Bhutan on $3 billion
  87. Djibouti on $3 billion
  88. Suriname on $3 billion
  89. Antigua and Barbuda on $2 billion
  90. Grenada on $2 billion
  91. Kosovo on $2 billion
  92. Liberia on $2 billion
  93. St Vincent and the Grenadines on $2 billion
  94. St Lucia on $1 billion
  95. Slovenia on $1 billion
  96. Anguilla on $1 billion
  97. Lesotho on $1 billion
  98. Seychelles on $1 billion
  99. St Kitts and Nevis on $1 billion

Totalling $ trillion

Regarding Australia's debtor nation status in fifth position, ever since we were first settled we've relied on other countries to invest in us to help us get going. And our public service has always been somewhat top heavy.
See a recent chart below for how much we are individually and corporately in debt to "managed funds" (in Australia as well as overseas).

Mammon and Babylon — Matthew 6:19-24   Luke 16:1-13   Revelation 17:1-5   Zechariah 5:1-11

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS (foul stenches) OF THE EARTH.

Click here re the Four Horsemen, Simon the Pharisee, Judas, and Paul's attitude to taking up a collection.

Click here re the History of Money and click here re the History of Inflation.

On May 28, 2014 6:49 PM, "Stephen Williamson" wrote:

Subject: Chatting about mammon - the great "mamma" this morning :-)

Ok Australia's Federal Net debt in bonds is now about $270 billion
$620 billion in July 2021

Total State and Territory debt in bonds about $230 billion
Private company debt in bonds about $720 billion
So, bonds investment: $1.22 trillion

Total private housing debt about $870 billion
Total investment housing debt about $410 billion
So, housing: $1.28 trillion

Private credit card debt and personal borrowings $140 billion
Private company borrowings from banks, etc about $730 billion
So, other borrowings: .87 trillion

Total Australian Debt $3.37 trillion, roughly, in May 2013
according to an article (no longer available) at www.news.com.au /national /quality-over-quantity-matters-in-debt/story

So who is in the black?

Various Australian Managed Funds (excluding "cross-investments") — superannuation (about 75% of the total),
public unit trusts&life insurance (about 25% of the total)
ABS Link
$2.3 trillion in 2014
$3.5 trillion in 2021
$2.3 trillion
Gross: Overseas investors (in Australia residents)
DFAT Link
$3.2 trillion in 2014
$4.0 trillion in 2020 click here for a recent AFR article
 
less: Australian investors (in overseas resident)
DFAT Link
$2.2 trillion in 2014
$3.0 trillion in 2020
 
Nett from Overseas Investment
ABS Link: $1.0 trillion
$1.0 trillion
Leaving a balance, roughly, for banks and other investors in Australia to supply:$70 billion
Total:$3.37 trillion

Yep, we've relied hugely on overseas investment since 1788 — starting with those famous IOU's written in 1793 for 7,500 bottles of overseas rum, authorized by the British Regiment's Paymaster — but with so much now available in our own superannuation and insurance and trust funds, the percentage of nett overseas investment has actually dropped.

So, while Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey are doubtless wise in endeavouring to, very gradually, reduce the $300 billion owing in federal bonds, those other figures do help to bring it all into a better perspective, with all the shouting that's going on.

Thank you Lord, yes, to rest in you, to look to you, our loving heavenly Father, for each coming day's needs.

"give us day by day, the bread for each coming day" as several translations put it.

Blessings all :-) Steve

And at the end of the day, as the scripture says, each one of us has to bear his own load, whether as individuals, company directors or politicians. Ahh the Lord knows.


Now the following email has had its figures adjusted to reflect some of the latest stats in 2022.

Note its use of the word "currency" is as follows:

1. M0 (including MB): Banknotes and coins in circulation and in bank vaults and in ATMs, plus the additional exchange settlement banking reserves in gold and government bonds that have been deposited by individual banks in their Reserve Bank. According to these links this is a small amount relatively speaking, in Australia it's about $565 billion, in the US it's about $6 trillion.

2. M1: Currency in customers "pockets" outside the bank vaults, plus on demand cheque and savings bank deposits. In Australia it's about $1.6 trillion, in the US about $18 trillion.

3. M2 and M3: All deposits (including M1) via managed funds in banks and money markets, a much larger figure. In Australia it's about $2.7 trillion — while the US Federal Reserve only reports M2, which is M1 + near deposits, about $20 trillion.

The figures below are estimates only.

On July 20, 2013 3:42 PM, "Stephen Williamson" wrote:
Subject: Where's all the money :-)

Hi all

With computers, we're certainly a long way from the gold / silver standard the world used for thousands of years. Again, appreciate any feedback.

A brief summary of regions with liquid assets and liabilities – a very, very rough picture 

RegionGross AssetsDebtNett
North America (USA and Canada)€79 trillion€15 trillion€64 trillion
Latin America€3½ trillion€1 trillion€2½ trillion
Western Europe€36 trillion€11 trillion€25 trillion
Eastern Europe (includes Turkey and Russia)€2½ trillion€1 trillion€1½ trillion
Asia (includes Israel)€47 trillion€12 trillion€35 trillion
Australia and New Zealand€3.758 trillion€1.633 trillion€2.125 trillion

Allianz
This table (click here for a full list of countries) is based on each region's gross financial household assets measured in euros by Allianz – currency stocks and bonds at current market values, with a separate column for debt, including mortgage debt. Total gross assets equals €172 trillion. Nett assets €130 trillion.
Its list of countries does not include Africa or the Middle East (other than Turkey, Israel and South Africa).
In Australia perhaps 90% of total debt is property loans, however current house and land values are not included in Gross Assets.

Credit Suisse
Click here for a full list of countries (including Africa and Middle East) showing Total Net Wealth (assets less liabilities) in US dollars by Credit Suisse US $114 trillion China $64 trillion Australia $7 trillion.
In contrast with Allianz it includes Non-Financial private assets, mostly House and Land at current values. Total wealth overall equals $US360 trillion.
Click here to view the Credit Suisse report as a PDF file.

 

Finally, Australian Households Total Net Wealth, including current house and land values (in AU dollars) is $AU 10 trillion, spread over 10 million households. An average net wealth of $AU 1 million per household, with the Australian Federal Government having a AAA credit rating worldwide.


From: chris Turner
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2013 11:47 AM

steve
how would the us and uk gold reserves affect these figures?
chris

 

Click here for a history of the world's gold reserves by country over the past 170 years.

From: Stephen Williamson
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2013 6:14 PM

Hi Chris

I didn't take account of it. The US records theirs as 8,000 tonnes at a book value of $35 an ounce, about $9 or $10 billion dollars, but that's very theoretical, its true market value may be closer to $350 billion if they were to exchange any of it. But still it's a lot less than $1 trillion.

It is more than any other one country, but apparently they haven't touched it for ages. So it's very minimal.

Now, with regard to the foreign exchange reserve assets held by each country's banks, it's a pretty small amount, a total of about **7 trillion dollars all up worldwide, 65% are now held simply in US dollar paper, 25% in euro paper, and the last 10% in that IMF animal which the Chinese like, a basket of currencies which the IMF call "special drawing rights" (and some UK pounds, Japanese yen, and only a very tiny amount in gold, yes, and other precious metals).

**Though in June 2014, this figure was increased/corrected to almost 12 trillion dollars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List of countries by foreign-exchange reserves

Some further thoughts.

Hmm, so ok, back in 1944, the UK didn't have much, but the US gold reserves and the Bretton Woods political agreement certainly gave the US government back then a massive leading edge:

Firstly in taking charge of winning the war, and

Secondly in assisting countries like Japan, South Korea, Germany, etc to recover.

And also helping Israel become a nation. Simply by printing the paper to underwrite the loans, and also in providing military help to help the governments rebuild their economies.

Of course it meant the US Govt was going massively into debt, from about $16 billion in 1930 to about $250 billion by 1950.

Mostly everyone else was happy to let them do it, though Mr Stalin in particular wasn't too pleased at the edge it gave the US politically. And numerous Islamic countries got very cranky, as Israel, as a political entity, didn't align with that worldview recorded in the Koran. Very emotionally upsetting for many of their leaders and preachers.

And a lot of US people weren't too pleased either, at how their generosity was being repaid, both in the press, and in numerous new wars. So, of course, since 1971, when the US decided to stop allowing foreign governments to exchange US paper dollar reserves any further at that cheap price of $35 an ounce, a price that was by then far, far too low from the market's point of view, yes, I think the rules have changed enormously.

So, to sum up, yes, gold reserves look good on paper, having a lot, back in 1971 when countries everywhere acknowledged that gold standard, (and were happy to make a profit at the US's expense), but according to that article above, it would indicate that gold holdings now have historical significance only.

Interestingly, it's been dropping heaps in price just recently, there's a lot of worried people out there wanting to put their money somewhere else.

Blessings Steve

From: chris Turner
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 7:26 PM

Hi Steve

For thought...The 2 major governmental assets are 1/tax's and 2/ crown land. I am not sure if the nations books include these amount.(I think not ).more food for thought

Chris

From: Stephen Williamson
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 9:19 PM
Subject: Re: Where's all the money :-) and future tax income and crown land

Hi Chris

Yes you're right, neither are included, I did think about it a fair bit, but of course it's present day value could be argued about "ad infinitum" :-). And there's also all that physical infrastructure (buildings and land) and non-monetary assets that are owned outright by each country, collectively. But of course that generally ends up costing money. Part of our responsibilities before the Lord, hey :-)

But coming back to your point about the government, with the US government printing bonds as freely as they are at present, I thought they were useful figures, currently they've printed **$16 trillion in US bonds, and they're currently printing $85 billion in extra money every month, calling it "quantitative easing".
**$28-$29 trillion in 2021-2022

So I guess that's based on that potential future income.

From: chris Turner
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 9:31 PM

Hi Steve
Enjoyed this report.I am a believer in diligently knowing the state of your flocks as proverbs declares.I am also learning to improve my skills in sustainably managing debt and income.
Regards
Chris

From: Stephen Williamson
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 10:09 PM
Subject: Thanks bro

Appreciate the encouragement ;-) Steve

Stephen Williamson Computing Services Pty Ltd
www.swcs.com.au/aboutus.asp

** End of article

 

Go back to top