Hyperinflation

It is important to understand the concept of hyperinflation, as it is an extreme form of economic instability that can have a severe impact on the affected economy and its citizens. You should understand the underlying causes of hyperinflation, recognize early warning signs, and take appropriate action to ensure economic stability and asset protection. In this article, we explain everything you need to know.

Hyperinflation Definition: Origin of the term

The term "hyperinflation" is made up of two parts: "hyper" and "inflation".

"Hyper" comes from the Greek and means "above" or "beyond". It is used to denote extreme or excessive manifestations of a phenomenon.
"Inflation" refers to the increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, leading to a reduction in the purchasing power of money.

Put together, "hyperinflation" therefore literally means extremely excessive inflation, in which prices rise very quickly and sharply.

Inflation vs Hyperinflation

The distinction between inflation and hyperinflation is crucial as they represent two different degrees of economic instability. These differences have a significant impact on the economy, people's daily lives and a country's political stability. It is important to understand the characteristics, causes and effects of inflation and hyperinflation in order to take appropriate measures to stabilize the economy and protect assets.

What is Inflation?

Inflation is generally defined as an increase in the general price level for goods and services in an economy over a certain period of time. This leads to a decrease in the purchasing power of money, meaning that the same amount of money can buy fewer goods and services.

Inflation can be measured in different ways, but the two most common are the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI). The consumer price index measures the price changes for goods and services purchased by households, while the producer price index measures the price changes for those goods and services produced by businesses.

Inflation can be caused by a variety of factors, including increased money supply, increased demand for goods and services, rising production costs, supply shortages and other economic or political factors. Moderate inflation is often considered a normal part of a healthy economy, while high or uncontrolled inflation can have negative effects, such as loss of purchasing power, uncertainty for consumers and businesses, and potentially a deterioration in economic conditions. Central banks often use monetary policy measures to control inflation and maintain stable economic conditions.

What is Hyperinflation?

Hyperinflation is an extreme form of inflation in which the prices of goods and services rise very quickly and extraordinarily sharply. Compared to normal inflation, where the annual rate is usually in the single digits, hyperinflation can reach inflation rates of hundreds or even thousands of percent per year.

Typically, hyperinflation occurs due to extreme economic or political circumstances that undermine confidence in the currency. This can be caused by an excessive expansion of the money supply, high levels of government debt, political instability, wars, natural disasters or other crises.

The effects of hyperinflation are extremely destabilizing for an economy. The purchasing power of money dwindles at a rapid pace, leading to a massive loss of wealth for the population. Savings are devalued, trade is affected, companies may find it difficult to set prices and make investments, and social and political unrest may occur.

Historical examples of hyperinflation include the German hyperinflation of the 1920s, the hyperinflation in Zimbabwe in the late 2000s and the hyperinflation in Venezuela in the 2010s. Hyperinflations are extremely difficult to control and often require drastic measures by the government and central bank to restore confidence in the currency and stop inflation.

Differences between inflation and hyperinflation

This table provides a summary of the key differences between inflation and hyperinflation and highlights the extreme nature of hyperinflation compared to more common inflation.

Aspect	Inflation	Hyperinflation
Definition	Increase in the general price level over a longer period of time	Extreme and uncontrolled increase in the price level over a short period of time
Rate of price increase	Normally moderate increase in prices	Very rapid and extreme increase in prices
Causes	Various factors such as increased demand, production costs, monetary policy	Excessive money creation, loss of confidence in the currency, political instability, external shocks
Effects	Reduction in purchasing power, uncertainty, possible economic upswing	Dramatic loss of purchasing power, economic chaos, social unrest, political instability
Monetary value	Slow loss of currency value	Rapid and drastic loss of currency value
Example	Moderate inflation in developed economies	German hyperinflation of the 1920s, hyperinflation in Zimbabwe and Venezuela

What are the reasons for hyperinflation?

Hyperinflation does not usually occur due to a single factor, but rather a combination of various economic, political and psychological factors. Some of the main reasons for hyperinflation are:

Excessive money creation: If a government or central bank prints or electronically creates large amounts of money without backing corresponding assets or production services, this can lead to an oversupply of money. The oversupply of money leads to a sharp fall in the value of the currency and thus to hyperinflation.
National debt: If a government has large debts and has no other means to service these debts, it may tend to increase the money supply to pay off its debts. This can lead to hyperinflation if confidence in the currency falls.
Loss of confidence in the currency: If the population loses confidence in the stability of its own currency, this can lead to a run on the currency, causing its value to fall rapidly. This can set off a downward spiral where people try to spend their currency as quickly as possible before it loses value.
External shocks: Wars, natural disasters or other external events can severely affect a country's economy and cause prices to rise. If the government tries to combat these external shocks by increasing the money supply, this can lead to hyperinflation.
Lack of production capacity: If a country's production capacity is severely limited and demand for goods and services remains high, prices can rise sharply. This can lead to a spiral of rising prices, which contributes to hyperinflation.

These factors can reinforce each other and cause hyperinflation, which is difficult to control and has a devastating impact on the economy and people's daily lives.

What is the Inflation Rate in this context?

Find out more about basic economic terms. Deepen your knowledge with our dictionary!

To the article on the Inflation Rate

Examples of hyperinflation in history

Below are three historical examples of hyperinflation and a brief explanation of each. These examples show how hyperinflations can be caused by a combination of economic, political and social factors and the devastating effects they can have on the countries affected.

German Hyperinflation (1920s)

After the First World War, Germany was faced with high reparation payments, which were stipulated in the Treaty of Versailles. In order to make these payments, the German government began to print money on a massive scale without supporting it with corresponding goods or production services. The money supply increased dramatically, which led to a dramatic devaluation of the currency, the mark. Prices rose so quickly that people were literally carrying their money in wheelbarrows to buy goods before prices rose even further. Hyperinflation finally reached its peak in November 1923, when a US dollar-mark conversion rate of 4.2 trillion marks to the dollar was reached. The consequences were devastating, with wealth losses for many, economic chaos and social unrest.

Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe (2000s)

In the early 2000s, the policy of land reform in Zimbabwe led to a sharp deterioration in agricultural production and a decline in export earnings. The government financed its spending by issuing more and more money to plug the holes in the national budget. This led to extreme hyperinflation, prices rose daily and the currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, became virtually worthless. The population suffered from poverty, food shortages and a collapse of the economy.

Hyperinflation in Venezuela (2010s)

Hyperinflation in Venezuela began in the early 2010s and accelerated from 2016 onwards due to a combination of economic mismanagement, corruption, falling oil prices and political instability. The government printed large amounts of money to finance its spending, which led to a rapid depreciation of the currency, the bol铆var. Prices rose so quickly that they were often changed several times a day, drastically reducing people's purchasing power. The consequences were a collapse of the healthcare system, food shortages, mass migration and social unrest.

What measures can be taken against Hyperinflation?

Fighting hyperinflation often requires drastic measures on the part of the government and the central bank. Here are some possible measures that can be taken against hyperinflation:

Tightening monetary policy: The central bank can reduce the money supply through restrictive measures, such as raising interest rates or increasing minimum reserve requirements. This can help to reduce the oversupply of money in the economy and control inflation.
Currency stabilization: the government can take measures to restore confidence in the currency, such as introducing a stable foreign currency or introducing a new currency with credible support and a clear economic plan.
Fiscal policy: the government can make spending cuts and increase revenues to reduce the budget deficit and reduce the need for central bank financing. This can help reduce pressure on the money supply.
Structural reforms: Long-term structural reforms, such as improving tax revenues, promoting investment and growth, stabilizing the political situation and fighting corruption, can help strengthen economic fundamentals and reduce future inflation risks.
International aid: In some cases, international assistance in the form of financial support, technical assistance and debt restructuring may be required to stabilize the economy and curb hyperinflation.

It is important to note that tackling hyperinflation can often be difficult and painful as it is often accompanied by economic dislocation, social unrest and political instability. Coordinated and credible policies are crucial to restoring public confidence and bringing hyperinflation under control.

Key Questions on Hyperinflation answered briefly

What is Hyperinflation simply explained?

Hyperinflation is an extreme form of inflation in which the prices of goods and services in an economy spiral out of control and rise exponentially in a very short period of time. This leads to a rapid loss of the currency's purchasing power, resulting in economic chaos, social unrest and a heavy burden on the population.

When is Hyperinflation imminent?

Hyperinflation looms when an economy is confronted with a combination of factors that can cause an extremely rapid and uncontrolled increase in the general price level. These include excessive money creation by the central bank, a loss of confidence in the currency, political instability, external shocks such as wars or natural disasters and insufficient production of goods and services.

What happens to my shares in the event of hyperinflation?

In the event of hyperinflation, share prices can fluctuate sharply. In some cases, shares can be seen as a form of tangible asset that can withstand the devaluation of money. However, hyperinflation can lead to general economic instability, which can also have a major impact on stock markets. In some cases, share values may fall as companies struggle to maintain their businesses or make a profit. It is important to consider the impact of hyperinflation on the overall economy and the specific industries and companies in order to make informed decisions about holding or selling stocks.

What happens to the debt in the event of hyperinflation?

In the case of hyperinflation, debts are usually devalued. As the general price level rises sharply, debts become worth less and less in terms of the goods and services they can buy. This can make debt easier to service in real terms, as income usually rises with inflation, while debt remains fixed or even depreciates in value.

How likely is Hyperinflation in Germany?

Hyperinflation in Germany is currently extremely unlikely. Germany has a stable economy, an effective monetary policy by the European Central Bank and a solid institutional basis that strengthens confidence in the currency. Hyperinflations are usually the result of extreme economic or political crises, which do not currently exist in Germany.