> Printing a lot of money doesn't always cause inflation, but any time there is inflation there has been a lot of money printing.
In fact, you can even argue that inflation causes a lot of money printing! When the government has trouble affording things that have gotten more expensive, they have to print more money to be able to buy the services they need!
(Of course, any responsible government would then also provide a drain for the corresponding amount of excess money -- e.g. tax it back out of existence shortly thereafter -- but somehow it's much easier to get elected when you promise to buy things, and not so much when you promise to tax the money away again...)
In fact, you can even argue that inflation causes a lot of money printing! When the government has trouble affording things that have gotten more expensive, they have to print more money to be able to buy the services they need!
(Of course, any responsible government would then also provide a drain for the corresponding amount of excess money -- e.g. tax it back out of existence shortly thereafter -- but somehow it's much easier to get elected when you promise to buy things, and not so much when you promise to tax the money away again...)