One would think states and peoples have had so many bad experiences with
inflation that politicians at the helm of these states would do
everything within their power to avoid inflation and, in particular, its
very intensive shape, i. e. hyperinflation. However, this has not been
the case. After the big inflations of the twenties and the post-war
inflations of the fourties, we still witness intensive, economically,
socially and politically extremely painful inflationary processes. And
the eighties will be particularly engraved in history as a period in
which the inflation has assumed an exceptionally dynamic character with
respect to some countries. This regards, in the first place, Latin
America, but not exclusively. Not without reason -as will be of
particular intensity has also affected shown in this book -inflation
countries which, according to the passed economic doctrine, were
supposed to be completely immune from this economic illness. Most
generally, the inflation can be assumed to be a uniform phenomenon
which, in each case, can be described by a single, universal definition,
while being divided into a number of forms and types distinguishable
according to their original and secondary sources, their mechanisms, the
ways of their manifestation as well as to their effects and the methods
of counteracting them.