People Money
The Promise of Regional Currencies
Published on 5. July 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
258 pages
978-1-908009-76-0 (ISBN)
Description
Three authors with decades of experience have teamed up to provide an up-to-date, state-of-the art field guide to the emerging movement of regional currencies. People Money describes a global movement of people creating their own currencies to support regional business and strengthen their communities. These currencies operate legally alongside Bank Money and Government Money, giving people new choices in an age of transition from outworn financial structures to an era of sustainable abundance. Part One explains the characteristics and purpose of the various models of commercial- and community-oriented currencies, the administration and governance of the currencies, how to cooperate with other financial institutions, clearing systems and the issue of taxation. Part Two focuses on the 'how to' of developing a regional currency, outlining the key principles and design processes, and the benefits that have accrued as a result of their implementation.
Finally, the book profiles and interviews some of the leading organisers of regional currencies around the world, explaining their driving passion and the nuances of each of the models - how the currency started, how it developed, the difficulties encountered on the journey, and how these were overcome. The currencies profiles include: Brixton Pound in London; The Business Exchange in Scotland; Blaengarw Time Centre in South Wales; Community Exchange System in South Africa; Chiemgauer in Germany; BerkShares, Equal Dollars, Ithaca HOURS and Dane County Time Bank in the USA; and many others.
Finally, the book profiles and interviews some of the leading organisers of regional currencies around the world, explaining their driving passion and the nuances of each of the models - how the currency started, how it developed, the difficulties encountered on the journey, and how these were overcome. The currencies profiles include: Brixton Pound in London; The Business Exchange in Scotland; Blaengarw Time Centre in South Wales; Community Exchange System in South Africa; Chiemgauer in Germany; BerkShares, Equal Dollars, Ithaca HOURS and Dane County Time Bank in the USA; and many others.
Reviews / Votes
"PEOPLE MONEY is a comprehensive , real-time survey of all the robust, viable local currencies and credit-systems emerging worldwide .These are now vital to provide safety-nets as citizens cope with the assaults of "austerity" policies of "technocrats" guided by defunct economics and what behavioural scientists call "theory-induced blindness". Economics was never a science and monetary policies based on its failed models are causing such widespread harm that the sensible solutions described in this book are now coming to light. This book is vitally important, not only to NGOs and concerned citizens , but also required reading for bankers, financiers and all economy policymakers looking for saner alternatives." Hazel Henderson, author of Building A Win-Win World, creator of the Green Transition Scoreboard, President , Ethical Markets Media (USA and Brazil), producer of the TV show "The Money Fix". "PEOPLE MONEY is the single most useful and empowering book I have encountered for those wanting to get involved in the complementary currency movement. Its diverse real-life examples and insightful 'how-tos', embedded in deep theoretical understanding, will surely make it essential reading for activists, policy-makers, and economists interested in localization and sustainability." Charles Eisenstein, Author of Sacred EconomicsMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bridport
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Black and white graphics
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 172 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
425 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-908009-76-0 (9781908009760)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Prof. Dr. Margrit Kennedy is an architect with a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Ph.D. in Public and International Affairs, who worked for UNESCO and OECD and was a professor for Ecological Building Technologies in the Department of Architecture at the University of Hanover. Projects in ecological architecture for the International Building Exhibition Berlin in 1987 led her to the discovery that it is virtually impossible to carry out sound ecological concepts on the scale required today without fundamentally altering the present money system or creating new complementary currencies. In her two books "Interest and Inflation Free Money" (1987 - translated into 23 languages since) and "Occupy Money" (2012) she explores the systemic problems of the present system and the advantages of using new complementary monetary designs. Her work in this field has been instrumental for the start of more than 60 regional currency initiatives in the German speaking parts of Europe. Bernard LIETAER has been active in money systems for 35 years in an unusual variety of functions. While at the Central Bank in Belgium he co-designed and implemented the convergence mechanism (ECU) to the single European currency system and served as President of Belgium's Electronic Payment System. He was General Manager and Currency Trader for the Gaia Hedge Funds, when Business Week identified him in 1990 as the world's top trader. He is currently Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and Visiting Professor at the Finance University in Moscow. He is the author of fifteen books relating to monetary and financial issues. John Rogers cut his teeth with local currencies by running a local exchange system in Wales for 10 years. He co-founded the Wales Institute for Community Currencies at the University of Newport, which he directed with Geoff Thomas from 2003-2007. They coordinated research into the effects of time banking in ex-mining communities, which was published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in 'Hidden Work'. He now offers training and consulting for local currencies through Value for People and has spoken and led workshops at many international conferences.