ECONOMIE SENZA DENARO: I SISTEMI DI SCAMBIO NON MONETARIO NELL'ECONOMIA DI MERCATO

Local and community non-monetary exchange systems have been introduced in thousands of communities around the world, from the most socially alternative settings of Ithaca to the conservative but yet innovative economies in Japan; to the modern cities in Australia to the homes of revolutionary illumines of Southern England, finding meaning also in the developing markets of Argentina and Brazil. Wherever they rise, they share the same common view, although their mechanisms are constructed according to different needs that distinguish their utilization: providing locally what the conventional exchange system lacks to offer. What this Thesis attempts to outline is firstly the set of reasons and benefits free-money economies appeal to, starting from the quagmires in our current-day highly global financial and out-of-control markets, to the inefficiencies presented by our conventional monetary environment, continuing secondly with a specific analysis of some of the most significant alternative exchange systems that have had the most success up until today. Through three interviews, which offer a concrete example on the outlook and benefits of a community-based non-monetary exchange system, I will attempt to explain the outlook and perspectives these local exchange systems appeal to in order to overcome the current economic crisis. Although free-money economies don't rise in an effort to overshadow the conventional economy, for this is not their intention, they are the answer that many regions, towns and individuals seek for in order to build a more sustainable economy for their future. Infact, however the relationship with man and money may seem distorted, or erroneously-constructed, to consider money in itself as responsible for the many economical problems that surround us today would not only be a mistake, but rather a misunderstanding in determining the source of today's inefficiency. It is not money in itself, but rather the financial system in relationship with banking mechanisms, as we will explore later in this Thesis, that do not result in a sufficiently high distribution of resources, wealth and overall prosperity. These systematic flaws, as will be proven in the analysis of twenty alternative-monetary systems in part II of this Thesis, and in the three interviews carried out in my community, can be counterbalanced by the introduction of more suitable monetary experiences, such as community currencies or time banks, to help the core local economy counterweight the effects of an overall global inefficiency. As I will conclude, the presence of these non-monetary exchange systems helps a city, town or community become more permeable to outside externalities and crisis while becoming more interdependent on its own economy, production, skills and exchange mechanisms. Although the farthermost benefits and effects of these projects are still to be told, their experimental phase is an interesting platform through which community leaders are allowed to address important, critical social and economic issues such as healthcare, education, elder care and environmental problems that afflict this era on Earth, permitting certain societies to demonstrate how they can thrive using new systems of exchange that match unmet needs with underutilized resources.