What if we didn’t have a money-based economy and instead, you had to get along in the world by bartering for the goods and services you needed? Would you survive more than a week? What skills and services could you offer up in exchange for food? Not sure why I got thinking about this, though maybe it was the 300 point drop in the DJSI yesterday.
Bartering is ancient. It was the only way before money was invented. At one time, salt was so valuable that Roman soldiers’ salaries were paid with it. Today, my salt stash won’t get me a haircut. But what can you do or produce today that has value to someone else? My ‘trade’ is (loosely) environmental protection. If the monetary system failed, I’m pretty sure nobody would need me to help them recycle. OK, I over-simplify. But it’s not like I’m a farmer or a doctor. My generation was still taught homemaking skills though. I can cook, clean, sew...things like that. I could probably think of some things to teach, maybe even chemistry if I brush up. Think of how much time you would spend to make a “we both have what the other needs” connection. Maybe I can sew great shirts, but the farmer with oatmeal doesn’t need a shirt; he needs a plumber. But perhaps the farmer will trade you for the shirt because he knows the plumber needs one. How complex! It would not be an easy existence, partly because our lives are so much more complicated – and we think we need so much more than our ancestors ever did.
Apparently last year, the Greek people started turning to bartering when the country was having currency problems. It’s not out of the question! Money is just what we’ve gotten used to as a stand-in for goods and services while we’re locating the goods and services we need. I couldn’t be further from an economic genius, but musing about this leaves me feeling that everyone should have a skill, trade or service that others want.
Bartering is ancient. It was the only way before money was invented. At one time, salt was so valuable that Roman soldiers’ salaries were paid with it. Today, my salt stash won’t get me a haircut. But what can you do or produce today that has value to someone else? My ‘trade’ is (loosely) environmental protection. If the monetary system failed, I’m pretty sure nobody would need me to help them recycle. OK, I over-simplify. But it’s not like I’m a farmer or a doctor. My generation was still taught homemaking skills though. I can cook, clean, sew...things like that. I could probably think of some things to teach, maybe even chemistry if I brush up. Think of how much time you would spend to make a “we both have what the other needs” connection. Maybe I can sew great shirts, but the farmer with oatmeal doesn’t need a shirt; he needs a plumber. But perhaps the farmer will trade you for the shirt because he knows the plumber needs one. How complex! It would not be an easy existence, partly because our lives are so much more complicated – and we think we need so much more than our ancestors ever did.
Apparently last year, the Greek people started turning to bartering when the country was having currency problems. It’s not out of the question! Money is just what we’ve gotten used to as a stand-in for goods and services while we’re locating the goods and services we need. I couldn’t be further from an economic genius, but musing about this leaves me feeling that everyone should have a skill, trade or service that others want.