# Gold Standard A monetary standard based on precious metals, espoused as [[sound-money]] in [[austrian-economics]]. ## Criticisms * Unequal distribution of gold across Earth gives certain countries and groups unequal access to value detached from economic activity and based purely on geography. * Limits the amount of economic growth because supply is limited. * Does not allow market intervention during recessions. * Short-term price volatility * Deflationary currencies encourage hording and punish debtors. * Gold mining and production is not predictable on long time scales. ## Essays 1. [Ben Bernanke|@bernanke_essays_2004]