Final answer:
Weeds, sand, and paper clips lack the characteristics of scarcity, making them poor choices for mediums of exchange. Scarcity ensures that a medium maintains its value for transactions. Money has evolved to become universally accepted, aiding in efficient trading.
Step-by-step explanation:
Weeds, sand, and paper clips would not make good mediums of exchange because they lack the key characteristic of scarcity. Money, to function effectively in an economy, must possess several characteristics: it must be a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. Additionally, money should be portable, durable, easily divisible, and scarce. Scarcity is vital because it ensures the medium of exchange maintains its value over time. Goods that are too common, such as weeds or sand, fail to hold value because they can be easily obtained by anyone without cost. In contrast, items like bubble gum wrappers could be considered money if a group agrees they hold value and can be used for trade.
The concept of money as a medium of exchange has significantly evolved from bartering systems to various forms including coins, paper currency, and digital transactions. Money simplifies trades by eliminating the need for a double coincidence of wants, which is often required in bartering. Instead of finding someone who directly wants what you offer and has what you need, money provides a universally accepted intermediary that holds value and can be exchanged for a wide range of goods and services.