Community Currency Systems as a Co-operative Option for the Developing World
* Article: Community Currency Systems: A Co-operative Option for the Developing World ? Peter Moers, 1998
URL = http://www.socioeco.org/bdf/en/corpus_document/fiche-document-248.html pdf
Summary
Peter Moers:
"The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of Community
Currency Systems (CCS) in strengthening the local economy in developing
countries. A CCS is a agreement among members of a community (individuals
and/or enterprises) to accept a certain exchange medium, which is not the
national currency. The community currency is only valid within the community,
thus stimulating local demand and eliminating the leakage effect commonly
caused by imports. Moreover, the quantity of money in circulation is determined by the community itself, which reduces the problem of money scarcity.
Chapter 1 will explain the malfunctioning of the current monetary
system, indicating the need for an alternative complementary exchange system
that can compensate partially the shortcomings of the current system. In chapter 2 will start with a summary of the general principles and history of community currencies, demonstrating the capability of ordinary people to issue money. Furthermore, an analysis will be made of the different types of CCS that can be distinguished.
In chapter 3, several common arguments against community currencies
will be studied more closely. Also the relevance of these arguments for developing countries will be discussed. CCS experiences in developing countries are still very rare. In order to give an impression of the functioning of CCS in developing countries,
chapter 4 describes experiences in Argentina, Mexico,Senegal and Ecuador.
In chapter 5 the conditions for a successful introduction of local currencies will be determined on the basis of the few existing scientific studies on community currency experiences. These conditions will be compared with the situation prevailing in developing countries, thus giving an insight into the potential of CCS as a poverty alleviation strategy.
In chapter 6 some practical issues concerning the management of CCS
will be raised and attention will be given to the question how these issues can be solved in a Third World context. Chapter 7 will take a look into the question if CCS are in fact co-operatives and to which extent co-operatives can play a role in introducing and promoting CCS. Chapter 8 gives an overview of the possibility of CCS to contribute to the sustainability and acceptability of existing programmes and projects, such as micro credit, training and environmental programmes. Finally, chapter 9 will elaborate on the potential role of the ILO in the further development and the promotion of the CCS concept." (http://www.socioeco.org/bdf/en/corpus_document/fiche-document-248.html)