Post
Topic
Board Economics
Re: How does inflation start
by
pening
on 05/03/2014, 22:28:04 UTC
While his explaination is flawed, his understanding of what inflation actually is may not be.  A rise in the general price index is a symptom of inflation.  The cause of inflation, and therefore what inflation actually is, is the expansion of the monetary base in excess of the economic/population/general growth rate.  Take your pick.

Think post above yours covers the important difference between two types that's been ignored thus far, but normally when people say "inflation" they mean price inflation.  Assuming this, then any reference or definition will say inflation is an increase in prices.  Further, monetary inflation does not necessarily lead to inflation, as you put yourself if the relative demand is in balance.  cf Japan engaged in quantitative easing and and printing money for two decades with no inflation to deflation.