Trading Talents Instead Of Cash
from the local-economies dept
If you ever study alternative economies, "barter economies" or local currencies designed to stimulate the local economy, it's likely that you've come across Ithaca Hours at some point or another. Designed as a way to help build up the local economy in the small city of Ithaca, NY, it was basically a barter system that let local merchants easily manage trade with each other, without involving government sanctioned currency. The system got plenty of hype and has been copied around the world (often with help from those who created Ithaca Hours). It appears that the concept has clearly made its way to South Africa, with an internet twist. According to this article (which doesn't mention Ithaca Hours at all), South Africans are using an online bartering system involving "talents" which are priced per hour, and function quite like Ithaca Hours. The article even quotes someone who claims to have "retired from the conventional money system," and who won't go anyplace that doesn't accept "talents" as payment.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Ithaca hours are over-hyped
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Re: Ithaca hours are over-hyped
It is a business to business system. Properly run it will create the same cash profit as currency transactions with an advantage that even cash lacks.
Because all purchases are paid for with new sales from the system; it now means that for the first time companies can use their necessary overhead expenses as a way to grow their own business's sales and profits.
My company, Metro Trading Association, has brought hundreds of millions in new sales to businesses in Michigan and Ohio over the last 26 years.
To find out if their is a business to business trading system in your area check the "yellow pages" and the International Reciprocal Trade Association(www.irta.com) or The National Association of Trade Exchanges (www.nate.org).
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Re: Ithaca hours are over-hyped
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Re:Trading Talents Instead Of Cash
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Re:Trading Talents Instead Of Cash
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