Transcript Local Money - Transeuropa Prague

Social Trade Organisation:
New Money
presentation Forum Alternative, Transeurope Festival, Prague
Financial system is a failure
• High (youth)unemployment
• Unequal distribution of welfare
• Unstable and unsustainable
• Environmental problems
Social Trade Organisation (STRO)
The Social Trade Organization was founded in 1970
based in Utrecht, The Netherlands
Mission:
“to research, experiment and implement innovative
sustainable economic structures made to suit local
economies.”
STRO’s presence in the world
Local circulation in poor areas:
problem
Money flows towards richer areas without
supporting the local economy
Local circulation in poor areas:
solution = own currency
> own currency forces local purchasing power to
circulate longer within the region > afterwards
can be exchanged for trade outside the region
Local Money: how does it work?
• Thousands projects worldwide using an own, local
currency
• Can only be used within certain area: neighbourhood,
city, region
• No replacement of national currency, but
complementary
• Some local currencies: no exchange for national
currency
• Other local currencies: exchange for national currency
or goods
Local Money: paper money or …..
Local Money: digital > Cyclos software
• STRO's open source software for the administration and
operation of Transaction Networks
• For the users it functions like online banking software,
allowing transfers between accounts through Web, cards
and SMS
• Introduces innovative algorithms that help to keep
purchasing power circulating longer, faster and more
times in the local market
• Offers functions of social networks and online market
place
Local Money: an example
consumers
supermarket
restaurant
LM
LM
computer
-shop
$
butcher
loan
LM
LM + bonus
administration
Local Money: an example
consumers
supermarket
accountant
restaurant
LM
LM
LM
computer
-shop
garage
transport
LM
$
distribution
LM
LM
LM
marketing
companies
LM
butcher
LM
stock-farmer
administration
$
- fee
LM
Local Money: advantages
• Local purchasing power circulates longer within the
region: more local economic activity and more jobs
• Cheaper loans to companies that participate in the
network
• Use of Cyclos means introduction of modern payment
system
Local Money in practice: Puntotransacciones
• El Salvador: 500 companies and consumers
• Turnover 2011: 1.3 million dollar, doubling each year
Local Money in practice: Brixton Pound
Results
•
We have proven that privately emitted means of
payment are technically viable, legally sound and
commercially accepted
•
Our methods for emitting, backing and administrating
different forms of means of payment are operational in
hundreds of local networks
•
Our software for online transactions is being used in
more than a hundred trade-networks (that we know
of...)
Local Money in Europe
• Most European countries in economic crisis
• High unemployment, e.g. youth unemployment is 50%
in Spain
• Conventional solution: budget cuts by governments
Campaign: Spend Local for More Jobs worldwide
Maybe also in Czech Republic:
nakupuj lokálně?
www.nakupujlokálně.cz ?
More info on STRO
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STRO:
Cyclos:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Spend Local:
email:
www.socialtrade.org
www.cyclos.org
www.facebook.com/socialtrade
SocialTradeOrg
www.spendlocal.org
[email protected]