Fractional banking allows an economy to expand by freeing up capital that can be loaned out to other parties. This course begins by explaining in detail what fractional reserve banking is and teaches you how this system works. You will first learn the strengths and weaknesses of reserve lending and look at how it helps economies grow. You will then learn about ‘runs’ on banks, which is when all depositors try to withdraw their money at the same time.

Full-reserve banking, also known as 100% reserve banking, is a proposed alternative to fractional-reserve banking. Here, banks would be required to keep the full amount of each depositor's funds in cash and be ready for immediate withdrawal on demand. This course will discuss full reserve banking where you will see how money is accounted for in the balance sheets of banks. You will also learn how banks present information about their key assets and liabilities.

This economics course will give you an in-depth understanding of fractional reserve banking and full reserve banking. You will learn how fractional reserve banking affects the amount of cash in circulation, along with the key theoretical perspectives on money circulation. By the end of the course, you will have a clear understanding of why central banks use newly created reserves to buy government debt and how they increase the supply of money to stimulate the economy during a recession.