So, this is Bob.

這就是鮑勃

He lives in America, where he uses the US dollar almost every day.

他住在美國，幾乎每天都使用美元。

Now he wants to travel to Germany, which uses the Euro as its currency.

現在，他想去使用歐元的德國旅行。

But when Bob tries to exchange his money, he finds that one US dollar is equal to 90 cents Euro.

但當鮑勃想換錢時，他發現 1 美元等於 90 歐分。

Then Bob goes to Vietnam, where one US dollar is equal to 25,000 dong.

然後，鮑勃去了越南，在那裡，1 美元等於 25 000 盾。

Wait!

等等！

Hold on!

等一下

Why does money have different values?

為什麼貨幣有不同的價值？

Why isn't one US dollar equal to one Euro and one Dong?

為什麼 1 美元不等於 1 歐元和 1 盾？

And why do exchange rates keep changing every second?

為什麼匯率每秒鐘都在變化？

In this video, we're going to dive into the world of currencies, exchange rates, and why money isn't just… equal.

在本視頻中，我們將深入探討貨幣世界、匯率以及為什麼貨幣並不......平等。

Before we talk about the reasons behind different currency values, let's first cover a short history of currency.

在討論不同幣值背後的原因之前，我們先來了解一下貨幣的簡史。

For a long time, money was directly linked to precious metals like gold.

長期以來，貨幣與黃金等貴金屬直接掛鉤。

This was known as the gold standard.

這就是所謂的金本位制。

Under the gold standard, a country's currency was backed by a certain amount of gold.

在金本位制下，一個國家的貨幣由一定數量的黃金支持。

For example, the US dollar was once tied to a fixed amount of gold.

例如，美元曾經與固定數量的黃金掛鉤。

This helped keep exchange rates stable because a country couldn't just print more money without having more gold.

這有助於保持匯率穩定，因為一個國家如果沒有更多的黃金，就無法印製更多的鈔票。

It stopped governments from printing too much money.

它阻止了政府印製過多的鈔票。

But as economies grew and global trade expanded, countries started moving away from the gold standard.

但隨著經濟的增長和全球貿易的擴大，各國開始放棄金本位制。

It was getting harder to keep enough gold to back every unit of currency, especially during wars and crises.

保持足夠的黃金來支持每一個貨幣組織、部門變得越來越困難，尤其是在戰爭和危機期間。

By the 1970s, most countries had switched to a new system called fiat money.

到了 20 世紀 70 年代，大多數國家都改用了一種名為法定貨幣的新系統。

Fiat money is currency that has value because the government says it does, and people believe it.

法定貨幣是一種有價值的貨幣，因為政府說它有價值，而人們相信它。

It's not backed by any physical asset like gold.

它不像黃金那樣有任何實物資產支持。

That's why some people call it fake money.

這就是為什麼有人稱之為假鈔。

If you want to learn more about this, let me know in the comment section and I can make another video for it.

如果你想了解更多相關資訊，請在評論區告訴我，我可以再製作一個視頻。

As fiat money has no physical value like gold, its value depends on whether people still want it or not.

由於法定貨幣不像黃金那樣具有實物價值，其價值取決於人們是否還想要它。

If many people want the money, they will compete to get it, making the value of the of fiat money comes from supply and demand.

如果很多人都想要這筆錢，他們就會爭相購買，從而使法定貨幣的價值來自供求關係。

That's why the currency of strong economies like the US dollar is higher in value because more people want it.

這就是為什麼美元等強勢經濟體的貨幣價值更高，因為有更多的人需要它。

Meanwhile, the currency of weaker economies, like Venezuela, which had hyperinflation, is much lower because nobody, not even Venezuelans, wants it.

與此同時，經濟實力較弱的國家，如委內瑞拉，其貨幣匯率卻低得多，因為沒有人，甚至委內瑞拉人都不想要這種貨幣。

So, in this video, we will look at how supply and demand affect the value of money.

是以，在本視頻中，我們將瞭解供求如何影響貨幣價值。

Section 1.

第 1 節.

Inflation So, inflation is when the currency starts losing its value.

通貨膨脹 那麼，通貨膨脹就是貨幣開始貶值。

Simply said, it's where there's more money compared to the amount of product and service.

簡單地說，就是與產品和服務的數量相比，哪裡的錢更多。

You can watch my video about why don't we just print more money to understand more about this.

您可以觀看我關於 "為什麼我們不印更多鈔票 "的視頻，瞭解更多這方面的資訊。

So, when a country has high inflation, its currency's value will decrease.

是以，當一個國家出現高通脹時，其貨幣就會貶值。

Why?

為什麼？

Because nobody wants to buy and hold a currency that is losing value.

因為沒有人願意購買和持有正在貶值的貨幣。

For example, in 2022, you can buy two loaves of bread for $10.

例如，在 2022 年，您可以花 10 美元買兩條麵包。

But due to high inflation, two years later in 2024, you can just buy a loaf of bread for $10.

但由於高通脹，兩年後的 2024 年，你只需花 10 美元就能買到一條麵包。

So, you buy fewer things with same amount of money.

是以，花同樣多的錢，買的東西會更少。

A real-life example is Zimbabwe.

辛巴維就是一個真實的例子。

In the 1980s, the Zimbabwean dollar was worth more than the US dollar.

20 世紀 80 年代，辛巴維元比美元值錢。

One Zimbabwean dollar was equal to 1.35 US dollars.

1 辛巴維元等於 1.35 美元。

But due to their failed land reform, economic problems, corruption, international sanctions, and printing money mindlessly, the value of the Zimbabwean dollar dropped dramatically.

但由於土地改革失敗、經濟問題、腐敗、國際制裁和無意識地印鈔，辛巴維元的價值急劇下降。

By the 2000s, one US dollar was equal to almost 600,000 Zimbabwean dollars.

到 2000 年代，1 美元幾乎等於 600 000 辛巴維元。

The government tried to fix it by changing the currency several times, but in the end, they gave up and started using more stable foreign currencies like the US dollar and the South African rand.

政府曾多次試圖通過更換貨幣來解決這一問題，但最終還是放棄了，開始使用美元和南非蘭特等更穩定的外幣。

Even though the latest news is Zimbabwe trying to get back their original currency.

儘管最新消息稱辛巴維正試圖收回其原始貨幣。

So, plus one point for never giving up to Zimbabwe.

所以，為辛巴維的永不放棄加一分。

Section 2.

第 2 節

Interest Rate You might have heard about interest rates before and wondered why they matter so much.

利率 您以前可能聽說過利率，並想知道為什麼利率如此重要。

Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money in percent.

利率是借貸成本的百分比。

If you borrow $1,000 at a 10% interest rate, you have to pay back $1,000 plus an extra $100 as interest.

如果您以 10%的利率借入 1,000 美元，您必須償還 1,000 美元外加 100 美元的利息。

Central banks, like the Federal Reserve in the US, set interest rates in their countries.

中央銀行，如美國的美聯儲，負責制定本國的利率。

When a country has high interest rates, it offers better returns on investments, attracting foreign investors.

一個國家利率高，投資回報率就高，就能吸引外國投資者。

These investors need to buy that country's currency to invest, which increases demand and strengthens the currency.

這些投資者需要購買該國的貨幣進行投資，這就增加了需求，使貨幣升值。

For example, you want to invest in government bonds.

例如，您想投資政府債券。

Government bonds are when you lend your money to the government for a set period of time, then the government will return your money with the interest.

政府債券是指您在一定期限內將資金借給政府，然後政府將連本帶利歸還您的資金。

Let's say you buy a governmental bond for $1,000 with 5% interest for 10 years.

假設您購買了 1000 美元的政府債券，利息為 5%，期限為 10 年。

It means the government borrows your $1,000 and will pay you 5% interest on $1,000, which is $50 every year for 10 years.

這意味著政府借你 1000 美元，並將支付你 1000 美元的 5%利息，即 10 年內每年 50 美元。

So the logic is, the higher the interest rate, higher the return of investment.

是以，邏輯是利率越高，投資回報越高。

So, if the interest rate in the US is higher than in Germany, investors might sell their euros and buy US dollars to invest in American bonds or savings accounts with higher returns.

是以，如果美國的利率高於德國，投資者可能會賣出歐元，買入美元，投資於回報率更高的美國債券或儲蓄賬戶。

This increased demand for US dollars strengthens the currency.

對美元需求的增加使貨幣升值。

On the other hand, if US interest rates are falling, it offers lower returns, and investors might look elsewhere.

另一方面，如果美國利率下降，它的回報率就會降低，投資者可能會將目光投向其他地方。

This reduces demand for US dollar, causing its value to decrease.

這減少了對美元的需求，導致美元貶值。

But a country cannot just make its interest rates as high as possible to attract investors.

但是，一個國家不能為了吸引投資者而儘可能地提高利率。

Why?

為什麼？

Remember, interest is the cost of borrowing money.

請記住，利息是借錢的成本。

High interest rates also mean it becomes more expensive for people and businesses in that country to borrow money.

高利率還意味著該國人民和企業的借貸成本更高。

If borrowing becomes expensive, fewer people buy homes or start businesses.

如果借貸變得昂貴，買房或創業的人就會減少。

This can slow the economy and lead to unemployment.

這會拖慢經濟發展，導致失業。

So the central bank needs to increase and decrease the interest rate based on the country's situation.

是以，中央銀行需要根據國家的情況提高或降低利率。

And that's why everyone is afraid of this guy when he announces the US dollar.

這就是為什麼當他宣佈美元貶值時，每個人都害怕他的原因。

Section 3.

第 3 節

Country Situation and Foreign Investment When China opened up its market in the late 1970s to foreign investors, lots of foreign companies started to open their business in China.

國情與外商投資 20 世紀 70 年代末，中國向外國投資者開放市場，許多外國公司開始在中國開展業務。

If they wanted to open factories in China, of course they needed Chinese currency which is Yuan or Renminbi to buy the land, build the factories, pay the workers and other expenses.

如果他們想在中國開設工廠，當然需要中國貨幣，即人民幣，來購買土地、建造工廠、支付工人工資和其他費用。

So it just makes more demand for Chinese Yuan and make the Yuan value stronger and give China lots of money.

是以，這隻會增加對人民幣的需求，使人民幣升值，給中國帶來大量資金。

That's why almost all countries promote their countries to foreign investors and lure them to invest and do business in their countries.

這就是為什麼幾乎所有國家都向外國投資者宣傳本國，吸引他們在本國投資和經商。

But foreign investors won't just invest in any country.

但外國投資者不會隨便投資任何國家。

They look for countries with stable politics and economies.

他們尋找政治和經濟穩定的國家。

Why?

為什麼？

A stable government means consistent rules and laws for businesses.

穩定的政府意味著為企業制定一致的規則和法律。

For example, if a country promises low taxes to attract foreign businesses but then suddenly raises taxes, it becomes more expensive for those businesses.

例如，如果一個國家承諾以低稅吸引外國企業，但突然提高稅率，那麼這些企業的成本就會增加。

They could lose money.

他們可能會賠錢。

If a country keeps changing its rules, businesses won't feel safe investing there.

如果一個國家不斷改變規則，企業就不會放心在那裡投資。

Similarly, if there are lots of protests or strikes, it can disrupt production and make it hard for businesses to operate smoothly.

同樣，如果發生大量抗議或罷工，也會擾亂生產，使企業難以順利營運。

A stable economy is also important because it means the country's money is less likely to lose value suddenly.

穩定的經濟也很重要，因為這意味著國家的貨幣不太可能突然貶值。

If a country has a lot of debt, high inflation or frequent economic problems, foreign investors worry they might lose money.

如果一個國家債臺高築、通貨膨脹率高或經濟問題頻發，外國投資者就會擔心他們可能會血本無歸。

So a stable country is more attractive for investment, which helps keep its currency strong.

是以，一個穩定的國家對投資更有吸引力，這有助於保持其貨幣的堅挺。

Section 4.

第 4 節.

Export and Import When Japan exports cars to other countries, those countries need to use Japanese Yen to buy the cars.

出口和進口 日本向其他國家出口汽車時，這些國家需要用日元購買汽車。

This makes the Yen high in demand.

這使得日元需求量大增。

If Japan imports coal from Australia, they need to use Australian dollars to buy the coal, which increases demand for the Australian dollar.

如果日本從澳洲進口煤炭，他們需要用澳元購買煤炭，這就增加了對澳元的需求。

Most countries try to export more so that others need to buy their currency, making it stronger.

大多數國家都在努力增加出口，這樣別人就需要購買本國貨幣，從而使本國貨幣更加堅挺。

For example, when the U.S. convinced oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia to sell oil only in U.S. dollars, it made the U.S. dollar highly in demand.

例如，當美國說服沙特阿拉伯等石油生產國只用美元出售石油時，美元就變得非常搶手。

Since almost all countries need oil, they have to get U.S. dollars to buy it.

由於幾乎所有國家都需要石油，它們必須用美元來購買石油。

This made the U.S. dollar a global currency, strengthening the U.S. economy and influence as the number one in the world.

這使得美元成為全球貨幣，增強了美國作為世界第一經濟體的實力和影響力。

This is known as the petrodollar.

這就是所謂的石油美元。

Even though there's rumor that Saudi try to accept other currencies also.

儘管有傳言說沙特也在嘗試接受其他貨幣。

I can also make another video about it if you want.

如果你需要，我還可以再製作一個相關視頻。

On the other hand, small island nations in the Pacific, like Tuvalu, don't have much to export so their local currencies aren't widely used.

另一方面，太平洋上的小島嶼國家，如吐瓦魯，沒有太多的出口產品，是以其當地貨幣並沒有被廣泛使用。

Instead, they use stronger currencies like the U.S. dollar or Australian dollar to make trade easier.

相反，它們使用美元或澳元等更堅挺的貨幣來簡化貿易。

Section 5.

第 5 節

Fixed Value So if you want your country to get stable and strong currency and also doesn't want to be hassle about it, then just use this trick.

固定值 所以，如果你想讓你的國家獲得穩定和堅挺的貨幣，又不想為此煩惱，那就用這一招吧。

Just peg your currency to other currency of stronger and stable countries.

只需將您的貨幣與其他更強大、更穩定的國家的貨幣掛鉤即可。

For example, Brunei, an oil-rich small sultanate in Southeast Asia, pegged their currency one to one to Singapore dollar.

例如，東南亞一個石油資源豐富的小蘇丹國文萊將其貨幣與新加坡元一比一掛鉤。

So it means both currencies have exactly same value, and that's why you also can use Singapore dollar in Brunei and vice versa.

這意味著兩種貨幣的價值完全相同，是以您也可以在文萊使用新加坡元，反之亦然。

Another example is Belize, a small country next to Mexico, which pegs its currency, the Belize dollar, to the U.S. dollar.

另一個例子是貝裡斯，這個毗鄰墨西哥的小國將其貨幣貝裡斯元與美元掛鉤。

They set the rate so that one Belize dollar is always equal to half a U.S. dollar.

他們設定的匯率使貝裡斯元總是等於半美元。

So if you want to change your U.S. dollar to Belize dollar, you don't need to see the exchange rate, just double the amount.

是以，如果您想將美元兌換成貝裡斯元，您不需要看匯率，只需將金額翻倍即可。

It's so easy, isn't it?

很簡單，不是嗎？

Pegging a currency makes it stable and easy to manage, but the country becomes very dependent on the stronger country's economy.

盯住一種貨幣會使其穩定且易於管理，但該國會變得非常依賴強國的經濟。

If the U.S. dollar falls, the Belize dollar will fall too.

如果美元下跌，貝裡斯元也會下跌。

So if one currency lives, the other live.

是以，一種貨幣活著，其他貨幣也就活著。

If one dies, the other dies.

如果一個死了，另一個也會死。

So, these are some reasons why currencies have different values.

以上就是貨幣具有不同價值的一些原因。

Your next question might be, why don't all countries use the same currency, like a world dollar, so we don't need exchange rates and all these hassles?

你的下一個問題可能是，為什麼所有國家不使用同一種貨幣，比如世界通用的美元，這樣我們就不需要匯率和所有這些麻煩了？

Well, it sounds like a great idea, but it's not that simple.

這聽起來是個好主意，但其實沒那麼簡單。

Let's look at the Euro as an example.

讓我們以歐元為例。

It's very convenient for people living in the Eurozone, because they can travel across countries without needing to exchange their money.

這對生活在歐元區的人來說非常方便，因為他們可以在不需要兌換貨幣的情況下跨國旅行。

But the challenge is that every country has to give up control over its own money to the European Central Bank.

但挑戰在於，每個國家都必須把對本國貨幣的控制權交給歐洲中央銀行。

This means a country cannot change its monetary policy just to fix its own problems, because it could also affect other countries.

這意味著一個國家不能僅僅為了解決本國的問題而改變貨幣政策，因為這也會影響到其他國家。

For example, when Greece had a financial crisis in 2009, the effects spread to other Eurozone countries.

例如，2009 年希臘發生金融危機時，影響波及其他歐元區國家。

And that's why Germany is not so happy with Greece about this.

這也是德國對希臘不滿意的原因。

So, if all countries in the world decided to use a single currency, it would be very risky.

是以，如果世界上所有國家都決定使用單一貨幣，風險將非常大。

Imagine living your best life, but then facing inflation and a crisis just because a country thousands of miles away messes up its economy.

試想一下，你過著最美好的生活，卻因為千里之外的一個國家搞亂了經濟而面臨通貨膨脹和危機。

One country's problem would become a problem for the whole world.

一個國家的問題將成為全世界的問題。

And maybe your next question is, should we make our currency as strong as possible?

也許你的下一個問題是，我們是否應該讓我們的貨幣儘可能堅挺？

The answer is, not really.

答案是：不一定。

As you know that different countries have needs.

大家都知道，不同的國家有不同的需求。

For example, a country that imports a lot, like Singapore, may want a strong currency to make imports cheaper.

例如，一個像新加坡這樣大量進口的國家，可能需要強勢貨幣來降低進口成本。

While a country that exports a lot, like China, may want a weaker currency to make its products cheaper for other countries.

而像中國這樣大量出口的國家，可能希望貨幣走弱，以使其產品對其他國家來說更便宜。

That's why China has been accused of purposely lowering its currency's value, called currency devaluation.

這就是為什麼中國被指責故意降低貨幣價值，即所謂的貨幣貶值。

How does this work?

它是如何工作的？

I'll explain it in another video.

我會在另一個視頻中解釋。

If you want me to make other videos explaining these topics, please like and subscribe.

如果您希望我製作其他視頻來解釋這些主題，請點贊和訂閱。

Thanks for watching.

感謝觀看。