Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies

by Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Bernard Lietaer

The power of local currencies Communities everywhere are challenged by issues such as health, elder and child care, housing, education, food security and the environment. On the surface, these problems appear to be rooted in economic crisis-forexample budget cuts have triggered reduced public services, soaring food prices have created food security concerns, and the subprime mortgage disaster has spawned record increases in foreclosures and homelessness. However if communities could match their unmet needs with their underutilized resources, many would find that while their economies may bestruggling when measured in traditional terms, they possess enough genuine wealth to allow all their inhabitants to enjoy a vastly improved quality of life. Creating Wealth demonstrates how a healthy society can beattained through developing new systems of exchange. Using creative initiatives such as time banks, systems of barter and exchange and local currencies, cities and towns can empower themselves and build vibrant, healthy, sustainable local economies. In addition to presenting many compelling case studies of successful alternative currencies in action, Creating Wealth also explores the different types of capital that communities have to draw on, including natural, built, social, human, institutional, cultural, technological, and financial. This book will appeal to community activists, city planners and other public officials, and anyone interested in developing strong local economies. Gwendolyn Hallsmith is the founder and director of Global Community Initiatives and the author of The Key to Sustainable Cities . Bernard Lietaer is the world's leading authority on complementary currencies and the author of The Future of Money .

Genres: Economics, Money

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Alex Boerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love your city and want to make it more amazing for yourself, your community and future generations, read this book and make it happen. In the end of the book, the authors have some great advise and share some realworld experience.

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it was the only thing that ever has."

[Jeffrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Surprisingly incorrect analysis on the role of Treasury and Federal Reserve in the beginning of this book, the section on B2B mutual credit networks is introduced with a historically inaccurate account of 'barter' society, and the treatment of inflation is not consistent with how modern monetary system operate. There are so many inconsistent and historically inaccurate analysis littered throughout this book I cannot recommend this.

I feel fortunate I bought this used and saved some of my monetarily sovereign issued currency. There is a plethora of information on modern complementary currencies and mutual credit networks out there, do not bother with this book.

[Denis Vasilev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Местные деньги и системы обмена товарами и услугами - цель устойчивое развитие. Есть примеры действующих и действоваших систем, не слишком многочисленные. Минус - надуманные исторические примеры с демурражем

[Nathaniel Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for those who are interested in complementary currencies which are used in different parts of the world. Although in some way, this book inspires to work upon your own ideas and local economy, it's primary readers target are city leaders and people in charge, who can really make decisions on the higher level.

Still, it's a good book that teaches a lot about complementary currencies and the nature of capital.

[Elsie Gilmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provided some great insights on how to create wealth in a slow economy. It could provide immense value in impoverished communities and those with stagnant economies.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

More examples of barter/alternative currencies, following Lietaer's "The Future of Money"

[Nick Harriss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was rather disappointed by this book. Alternative currencies is an area I have a particular interest and I was hoping for some new insight as this is regarded as one of the definitive texts on the subject. Unfortunately it provided little that I was not aware of.

[amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on alt currencies. There is a particularly interesting example with a specifically educational currency.