Declare economic independence with revolutionary micro-currency

Communities around the world who find the mainstream economic system taxing at best and downright disempowering at worst are taking matters into their own hands. With micro-currency and modern day barter systems, people are making positive strides in curbing economic downturns. Both promote ingenuity, economic sustainability, prosperity and connection with neighborhood commerce. As more cities, towns and rural hamlets embrace alternative currencies and bartering, abundance thrives — free of national and global financial strangleholds.Ziggy Stardust on valid currency- This is just what the London neighborhood of Brixton has done. Called the Brixton Pound, residents can use it at over 200 local businesses. As an added bonus, businesses often extend a discount to those using this innovative (and gorgeous) money. Although backed by national banknotes, the beauty of alternative currency is that it keeps money and prosperity local. Brixton is one of four regions in the UK that currently employ this ingenious economic system.

From the Chiemgauer of Bavaria to BerkShares of Massachusetts; Montana’s Butte Bucks to Calgary Dollars in Alberta — each promote a vital sense of community and economic independence. Non-profits and businesses are encouraged to keep the Chiemgauer circulating by being charged a hefty five percent commission fee if they want to change it back into euros. BerkShares are worth more than a standard US dollar, giving people a nice little incentive to use local currency for their purchases. And Butte Bucks will exchange $40 American for $50 of local money, while a Calgary Dollars member can make local cash by listing a service, product or skill. A merry-go-round of cash flow is created by earning and spending within the community. All this allows friendly forging of business deals and helps to support a stable local economy.

Another clever economic structure is the time bank. Using the sophistication of the Internet, time banks are popping up around the globe — helping people to barter for services. A time bank will keep track of who provides what services, the number of ‘hours’ a person has contributed and how many hours are owed. 

Different skill levels will accumulate varying rates of hours. For example, a carpenter will accumulate more hours than a babysitter. As soon as an individual has accumulated hours, they can ‘spend’ them on services they need. A record of the remaining hours is then coordinated by the system. Time banks are found throughout the world — yet administrators are vigilant to make sure value is never given in hard currency which would open a Pandora’s box of taxation from governments.

Eric Garland, futurist and strategic analyst, observes in the Atlantic:

“With all this innovation going on, one big question remains: what does this mean for paying the tax man, who wants a single currency to represent all of the activity so he can measure it and take his bite- The national revenue services of the world may need to start innovating themselves if they want to come up with the answer.”

Sources for this article include:

“Local Currencies Aren’t Small Change” Joel Stonington, UTNE, June 2004. Retrieved on August 28, 2012 from: http://www.utne.com

“The Next Money: As the Big Economies Falter, Micro-Currencies Rise” Eric Garland, The Atlantic, May 16, 2012. Retrieved on August 28, 2012 from: http://www.theatlantic.com

“Communities print their own currency to keep cash flowing” Marisol Bello, USA Today, April 10, 2009. Retrieved on August 28, 2012 from: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-04-05-scrip_N.htm

“Tough Times Lead to Local Currencies” Judith D. Schwartz, Time Magazine, July 13, 2009. Retrieved on August 28, 2012 from: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908421,00.html

“Local Currencies: ‘In the U.S. we don’t trust’ Blake Ellis, CNN Money, January 27, 2012. Retrieved on August 28, 2012 from: http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/17/pf/local_currency/index.htm

About the author:
Carolanne enthusiastically believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, natural foods chef and wellness coach, Carolanne has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of organic living, gratefulness and joyful orientation for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people from around the world who share a similar vision.

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