The expert guide to understanding and surviving monetary failureWhat's Wrong with Money? explores how and why money is valued and the warning signs that point to its eventual collapse. Author Michael Ashton is widely regarded as a premier expert on inflation, and in this book, he illustrates how the erosion of trust in central banks is putting us at high risk of both near- and long-term inflation--and a potentially very serious disruption. It's not about a conspiracy surrounding inflation reporting; it's about the tentative agreement we all carry that lends money its value. This value isn't necessarily inherent; while some currency is backed by stored value, others are not. This book walks you through the history of currency and details the ways in which it can fall apart. You'll learn how to invest in any type of collapse scenario, and you'll gain expert insight into the warning signs that signal a coming shock to the financial system.* Track the history of monetary value* Consider how money could die slowly or quickly* Learn investment strategies for both slow and quick scenarios* Examine potential causes of erosion of trust in the monetarysystem, and the chilling results of such erosionAn economic system without money is incredibly inefficient, but our shared agreement in monetary value has historically never been enough. What's Wrong with Money? shows you the lessons from the past and the reality of the present and helps you make plans for the future of money.

Preface ixAcknowledgments xiiiAbout the Author xvPART I HOW MONEY LIVES AND DIES 1CHAPTER 1 What Is Money, and Why Do We Need It? 3CHAPTER 2 "Fiat" Money 19CHAPTER 3 The Role of Central Banks and the (Limited) Power of Monetary Policy 27CHAPTER 4 Bitcoin: A Solution and a Different Problem 39CHAPTER 5 How Fiat Money Dies 47PART II WHERE ARE WE NOW? 55CHAPTER 6 Don't Believe Everything You Read (But Believe Some of It) 57CHAPTER 7 Central Bankers Are Monetarists No Longer 67CHAPTER 8 Central Bankers in the Global Financial Crisis 77CHAPTER 9 Where Are We Now? 99CHAPTER 10 My Prescription 125PART III HOW TO INVEST WITH INFLATION IN MIND 129CHAPTER 11 Only Three Miracles 133CHAPTER 12 Inflation-Aware Investing and the Easy Way 143CHAPTER 13 Liability-Driven Investing for Individuals 159CHAPTER 14 Investing for a Currency Calamity 173Index 179