Lecture 17
MONEY

Exchange of goods
Problems:
- Double coincidence of wants may not occur
- Arriving at the terms of exchange is problematic

M1 mainly consists of (1) currency outside the U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve Banks, and the vaults of depository institutions; (2) demand deposits at commercial banks; and (3) other liquid deposits, consisting of other checkable deposits (or OCDs, which inlcude share draft accounts at credit unions) and savings deposits (including money market deposit accounts). Seasonally adjusted M1 is constructed by summing currency, demand deposits, and other liquid deposits, each seasonally adjusted separately.

M2 mainly consists of M1 plus (1) small-denomination time deposits (time deposits in amounts of less than $100,000); and (2) balances in retail money market funds (MMFs).
Source: Federal Reserve

Before April 24, 2020, savings accounts were not part of M1. M1 consisted of currency, demand deposits, and other highly liquid accounts called “other checkable deposits” (OCDs). An example of OCDs are the demand deposits at thrifts.
But the limitation on the number of these transfers was lifted on April 24 as an amendment to Regulation D, which specifies how banks must classify deposit accounts. Savings deposits are now just as liquid and convenient as currency, demand deposits, and OCDs. To reflect this fact, savings deposits are now included in M1.
The FRED graph above compares the new M1 with what would have been M1 under previous regulations, when it included only currency, demand deposits, and OCDs. From May 2020 on, M1 comprises currency, demand deposits, and a new item called “other liquid deposits.” These are the OCDs plus savings deposits. Previously, the OCDs consisted about 17% of M1. Now, the other liquid deposits consist about 70% of M1.