The general desire for a commodity, such as gold, stimulates its acceptability in unlimited amounts, since each individual knows that his neighbors will gladly accept it in exchange for their surplus commodities. Such a commodity, whatever it may be, we call money. As soon as a society reaches the money stage of economic development its exchanges are greatly facilitated. No longer is it necessary for an individual who desires, let us say, to exchange a deerskin for a hat, to go about among his friends seeking another individual who has not only an extra hat but also a desire to possess a deerskin. Instead, he deals with two different individuals, exchanging his deerskin for money, and carrying the . money in his pocket until he finds some one who has a hat for sale. In one respect money is a universal mobilizer of goods - that is, it gives mobility to the exchange of goods. If we were deprived of its use, a large part of the energy now expended in producing goods would necessarily have to be expended in bringing together traders possessing mutual demands.