THE MONEY KIT
PROJECT
Local money networks, which are essentially trading networks using a legal community currency, have emerged in countries as far apart as Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and the US, continental Europe and Japan. They range from Local Exchange Trading Schemes (UK), to Time Dollars (US), Green Dollars/Barter Tokens (New Zealand, Australia and Canada), Trading Circles (Hungary), Barter Networks (Argentina) and Talents (Germany).
Drawing on an ethnographic case study of alternative currency movements around the world, the MONEY KIT PROJECT undertook a lengthy, in-depth analysis of the motivations, aims, successes and failures of alternative currency networks.
It raised questions about
the effective contribution of the alternative currency movement to current
debates about circle economies. It is theoretically informed, critical and
grounded in fieldwork. It is also sympathetic to the political aims of the
protagonists and cognisant of the far reaching, positive, economic benefits
that arise from their development provided they are designed well and founded
on principles and design strategies that fit the current requirements of the
intended user.
