Summary

The web content discusses the transformation of economies and the role of money, advocating for a future where communities can create their own money systems that are more aligned with sustainable values and basic needs.

Abstract

The article titled "How Can We Create Our Own Money Future?" explores the shift in economic paradigms, emphasizing the importance of redefining the purpose and use of money. It outlines three types of economies—macro, meso, and micro—and the need for cash flow within them. The author, Désirée Driesenaar, highlights the potential for economic models to evolve, particularly with the rise of platform cooperatives and decentralized finance (DeFi). The piece reflects on the teachings of economist Bernard Lietaer, who envisioned money as a tool for cultural change and advocated for local currencies with demurrage, which lose value over time to encourage spending and investment in the community. The article suggests that with the advent of Web3 technologies, future generations will have the power to create fair and ethical economic systems, where basic income and interest-free lending could be possible. It concludes with a call to action for educating and inspiring future leaders to embrace these changing paradigms.

Opinions

The author is optimistic about the economic future, particularly for the grandchildren's generation, due to the healing power of the feminine and the shift towards more sustainable economic models.
Money should serve as a trading mechanism for real value and not as a means for speculation or as an end in itself.
The meso-economy is transitioning from transactional business models to platform models, with the potential for workers to become part-owners of the platforms they work on.
The micro-economy is within the individual's control, with diverse income streams available through various means such as inheritance, employment, freelancing, or entrepreneurship.
The author believes in the power of choice, encouraging consumers to spend money in ways that support ethical businesses ("the dolphins") rather than exploitative ones ("the sharks").
Bernard Lietaer's influence is evident, with the author echoing his views on the cultural aspect of money and the possibility of designing local currencies that incentivize sustainable behaviors.
The article promotes the idea of a basic income within a new monetary system that discourages hoarding and encourages circulation, potentially leading to a more equitable society.
The author advocates for the use of Web3 technologies to enable young people to take control of their data and identities, fostering a DIY culture where they can be both creators and consumers in the new economic paradigm.
The piece criticizes Bitcoin for perpetuating the issues of conventional money, such as lack of transparency and speculation, and instead suggests the exploration of user-generated currencies and blockchain technology.

ECONOMY

How Can We Create Our Own Money Future?

Economy lessons for changemakers

Picture: Nattanan Kanchanaprat via Pixabay

Okay, as promised, I’m switching my subject from hard tech for basic needs on our planet to economies now.

After all, many of you want to know why I’m so positive about our grandchildren’s future

Well, that’s easy

The world is shifting. And we are in the middle of this big shift. We are healing trauma now with the feminine in all of us rising. Dancing our way into coping, healing, and loving again

So, what about economic shifts?

Let’s get some things straight about economies and money first

There are 3 kinds of economies:

Macro-economy — the economy of a country, including fiat currencies like dollars, euros, and pounds
Meso-economy — entrepreneurship and business models
Micro-economy — your household economy

Cash flow is the driver in all. Income streams

And we designed all three economies with different rules to fit a purpose

Macro-economy is mostly designed now by banks for speculation and making money with money

Meso-economy is shifting from transactional models to platform models. Think Uber. Or AirBnB. You don’t know the person you are buying from. But you do have an app. And the next step here is that the car drivers of the new Uber platforms will be part owners of the system. They can turn solid assets (their car) into liquid income streams and own part of the company they are working for. Cooperatives on platforms

Wow! That’s cool!

Micro-economy is up to you. You might be rich because of an inheritance. You might have a job as your income stream. You might be a freelancer. Or a start-up entrepreneur. Your choice. You can do it all

Freedom of choice!

The Role of Money

Money is intended to be a trading mechanism for real value. Nothing more nothing less. We have made it into a God and real value is often not represented by money, but ala. That’s our own choice too

We own our wallets. We can decide how to spend our money and who to support in the world

The sharks or the dolphins

We can believe the marketing shit that expensive products are better products. Or we can realize that it’s all an illusion. Sales of perception

We just buy what we like. We buy an extension of our identity just to feel good about ourselves. It’s okay. I’ve done that too in my youth. When I didn’t know better

If we don’t see the border between basic needs and nice-to-haves, well, that’s our problem too. If we don’t have any clue about our comfort level and are able to lower it, we need loads of money to get by

Life is just about making choices

Where to be? What to buy? Whom to love? Etc.

Ethical macroeconomic professor Bernard Lietaer knew that well

“Money is culture” — Bernard Lietaer

This is what he told me when I met him a few years before his death. He had just seen the huge possibilities of #defi. Decentralized finance. And blockchain

His eyes glittered. His smile was radiant. And he asked me to design local markets for regenerative farmers

What was another lesson he taught me?

“Fiat currencies (dollars, euros, pounds) are designed to a set of rules. We can turn demurrage around in our local currencies” — Bernard Lietaer

What’s demurrage? It’s the speed at which money loses its value

What if we can create money like soils and seas and souls? Money that degrades when we don’t use it? Money that can be stored with an agreement of what we are saving for?

What if we can give everyone a basic income in this system? And lend money to another without interest because it would lose its value anyway if we don’t spend it?

Would the world be a different place?

It’s sure that the defi people are designing it now. Community currencies for the people. The citizens. With Web3, our grandchildren can own their own data and identities again

We will have fully distributed systems. Fair systems. Or as fair that WE will make them ourselves

Young people will be DIY-ers because they learn how to code Web3. They can be creators and consumers of their own futures. I said it before, young people are born for their times

They will get the leaders they deserve too. Ethical swarm leaders if I would have a say in it. But I don’t. It’s their future

I don’t have to know the details. I’ll just be a mentor so they will include past lessons in their current designs

I’m making our views on creating the new systems planet-centric. Involving ethical human nature. That’s what I do for a living

Teach. Mentor. Train our brains

Full Talk on Designing Money

Okay, one more then. Here’s the full talk by Bernard Lietaer

My takeaway:

“Bitcoin is not a currency. It’s just a tool for speculation. It has copied from conventional money two features that are very damaging for effective money

1- lack of transparency

2- speculation

If you don’t want to see the whole talk, just have a look at the time stamps Mar A gave us in the first comment

Time Stamps 16:00 Conventional Money Pipe-Line Model 38:20 Bail-in 50:43 Complex Flow Networks 1:43:15 Towards a Monetary Ecosystem 1:43:58 Blockchain, Bancor, User Generated Currencies 2:02:08 Discussion with audience

Happy learning, my friends

The future is ours

I’m a researcher and educator of changing paradigms — Educating and inspiring future leaders in the wave of change. Stay tuned via our website Abundanism.com

Join Medium with my referral link — Desiree Driesenaar

As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…

driesenaar.medium.com