Cash: relic or systemic necessity?

The purpose of this study is to identify the lowest share of cash in money supply that ensures normal functioning of the national economy. The positions of Russian and foreign authors on the optimal share of cash in the economy were analyzed; trends in the structure of money supply have been identified over a period of more than thirty years of the country’s development; a sociological study, involving all economic regions, was conducted to examine the attitudes of different social and age groups toward cash and to evaluate its minimal share at 10–12% of money supply. By combining economic and sociological approaches to studying the role of cash, the research revealed not only quantitative patterns but also social practices associated with its use. It is emphasized that the share of cash is not only a financial indicator, but also a reflection of deeply rooted social habits. Cash continues to serve as a barometer of institutional trust, while its share reveals the depth of the divide between public and financial institutions.