Barter: New Data and Comments

Exchange networks and parallel currencies

“…The conclusions of the dissertation are presented in chapter nine (9), where the limitations of the project and the main topics for further research are also presented.…”

“…Seyfang seems to share this view, exploring both the alternative theories on money in relation to parallel currencies 7 as well as Time Banks being spaces for collective redefinition of social values 8 . Bradshaw, Chatzidakis and Maclaran point out that Skoros free bazaar in Exarheia area of downtown Athens is a place where goods are exchanged, but also a space where exchange and cultivation of ideas is possible, particularly to the direction of anticonsumerism, gifting and sharing 9 . According to Wainwright, however, the parallel currency movement is much more ambitious, as it attempts to reconfigure the entire political economy on a basis of class equality 10 .…”

“…If, of course, one takes into account Allemand et Boutillier's statement that social and solidarity economy is based on the same foundations as capitalism: private property and free competition 7 , parallel currencies are not in conflict with conventional market. Henderson, however, does not agree with this, because she considers parallel currencies and actually "nonmoney, pure information economy" to be the "oldest, most reliable safety net" 8 , because "production systems based on elaborate barter, reciprocity and redistributive schemes" are "highly refined technology of software variety" 9 . She gives long descriptions of parallel currencies in history but also in our modern times 10 and she finally states that "These nonmoney and scrip-based economies are leading indicators of transition to a much more diverse socially and ecologically compatible future" 11 .…”

“…Ingham's theory on the nature of money gives important directions not only on the social character of monetary structures, but also on the value of money, on the political character of new monetary spaces and on the collective character of the monetary arrangements 9 . Zelizer, by studying "thick" archival and historical 1 Seaford, R. (2004).…”

“…8 Gran, E. (1998). 9 information, succeeds in grasping the struggle among several agents and/or groups within the same society, class or even household; and this struggle takes place about or is expressed by giving special meanings on money amounts or tokens, which are supposed to be identical to each other 1 . To those theories, one could add the status value theory applied by Thye in exchange relations 2 , given that this theory links exchange position and value with the status the exchange actors have or even try to attain through the exchange itself.…”