Present valueIneconomics and finance, present value (PV), also known as present discounted value (PDV), is the value of an expected income stream determined as of the date of valuation. The present value is usually less than the future value because money has interest-earning potential, a characteristic referred to as the time value of money, except during times of negative interest rates, when the present value will be equal or more than the future value.
Real and nominal valueIn economics, nominalvalue refers to value measured in terms of absolute money amounts, whereas real value is considered and measured against the actual goods or services for which it can be exchanged at a given time. Real value takes into account inflation and the value of an asset in relation to its purchasing power.
InflationDevaluation of money's purchasing powerGlobal rates of inflation in April 2026 among International Monetary Fund membersUK and US monthly inflation rates from January 1989In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money, though it originally referred to the increase of the money supply (monetary inflation) that can cause such a universal shift.Rate of returnIn finance, return is a profit on an investment. It comprises any change in value of the investment, and/or cash flows (or securities, or other investments) which the investor receives from that investment over a specified time period, such as interest payments, coupons, cash dividends and stock dividends. It may be measured either in absolute terms (e.g., dollars) or as a percentage of the amount invested. The latter is also called the holding period return.
Time value of moneyThe time value of money refers to the idea that there is generally a greater benefit to receiving a sum of money now rather than an identical sum later. It may be seen as an implication of the later developed concept of time preference. The time value of money refers to the observation that it is better to receive money sooner than later. Money you have today can be invested to earn a positive rate of return, producing more money tomorrow.
Compound interestCompound interest is interest accumulated from a principal sum and previously accumulated interest. It is the result of reinvesting or retaining interest that would otherwise be paid out, or of the accumulation of debts from a borrower. Compound interest is contrasted with simple interest, where previously accumulated interest is not added to the principal amount of the current period.Interest rateAn interest rate is the amount of interest due per period, as a proportion of the amount lent, deposited, or borrowed. Interest rate periods are ordinarily a year and are often annualized when not. Alongside interest rates, three other variables determine total interest: principal sum, compounding frequency, and length of time. Interest rates reflect a borrower's willingness to pay for money now over money in the future.
LoanLending of money Loan document issued by the Bank of Petrevene, Bulgaria, dated 1936 In finance, a loan is the tender of money by one party to another with an agreement to pay it back. The recipient, or borrower, incurs a debt and is usually required to pay interest for the use of the money.
Interest (economics)A bank sign in Malawi listing the interest rates for deposit accounts at the institution and the base rate for lending money to its customersIn finance and economics, interest is payment from a debtor or deposit-taking financial institution to a lender or depositor of an amount above repayment of the principal sum (that is, the amount borrowed), at a particular rate. It is distinct from a fee which the borrower may pay to the lender or some third party.RetirementRetirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload. Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their job for health reasons.FinanceAcademic discipline studying businesses and investments Finance refers to the management, movement, investment, and raising of money. "Finance" also refers to the academic discipline that studies these. Based on the scope of financial activities, the discipline can be divided into the three primary branches personal, corporate, and public finance.
EconomicsEconomics () is a social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyses what is viewed as the basic elements of economies, including individual agents and markets, their interactions, and the outcomes of those interactions. Individual agents may include households, firms, buyers, and sellers.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.