Which of the following best explains how the invention of money affected the barter system?

• A. It made trade easier by providing a common medium of exchange, reducing the need for a double coincidence of wants.
• B. It increased the reliance on direct exchange of goods and services.
• C. It decreased the overall volume of trade in the economy.
• D. It eliminated the need for specialization in production.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the barter system, which involves direct exchange of goods and services without a common medium. This system requires a 'double coincidence of wants,' meaning both parties must want what the other offers.
2. Step 2: Recognize the role of money as a medium of exchange that can be widely accepted in trade, eliminating the need for both parties to want each other's goods simultaneously.
3. Step 3: Analyze how money simplifies transactions by providing a common measure of value, making it easier to compare prices and trade goods and services indirectly.
4. Step 4: Consider the effects of money on trade volume and specialization. Money typically increases trade volume and encourages specialization because it facilitates easier exchange.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the invention of money improved the efficiency of trade by reducing the limitations of the barter system, specifically by removing the necessity for a double coincidence of wants.