The Future Of Money | Bernard Lietaer

Based on the four mega-trends of monetary instability, global greying (an ageing global population), the information revolution, and climate change and species extinction, Bernard Lietaer looks at different scenarios of what the world might be like in 2020. 1. The Corporate Millennium: governments are disbanded, central banks close down and the world is run with Big Brother control by huge corporations with their own currencies.2. Caring Communities: people retreat into small, self-sustaining communities, like tribes.3. Hell on Earth: in which the breakdown of life as we know it is followed by a highly individualistic free-for-all, resulting in an ever more obscene gulf between rich and poor.4. Sustainable Abundance: envisages a world where we take better care of the environment, re-engage the poor and the unemployed in mainstream society and give back time and fulfilment to the over-worked, while providing the elderly with a high level of personal care. A society of sustainable abundance is achievable - but only if we are willing to re-invent our money system and create new currencies.

About the Author

Bernard Lietaer (7 February 1942 - 4 February 2019) was a Belgian civil engineer, economist, author, and educator who made significant contributions to the field of monetary systems and complementary currencies. Lietaer was a pioneer in advocating for complementary currencies and monetary diversity. He believed that communities could benefit from creating their own local or complementary currencies to circulate alongside national currencies12. His work focused on designing monetary systems that could address specific societal needs, such as fighting global warming, promoting employment, or facilitating education and healthcare.

Bernard Lietaer (born 7 February 1942) was a Belgian civil engineer, economist, author, and educator who made significant contributions to the field of monetary systems and complementary currencies. Lietaer was a pioneer in advocating for complementary currencies and monetary diversity. He believed that communities could benefit from creating their own local or complementary currencies to circulate alongside national currencies. His work focused on designing monetary systems that could address specific societal needs, such as fighting global warming, promoting employment, or facilitating education and healthcare.

Bernard Lietaer's work continues to influence discussions on monetary reform and sustainable economics. He was known for his ability to design currency systems to address specific problems, famously stating, "Name a problem and I will design a complementary currency to help you solve it". His ideas on monetary ecosystems and the need for diversity in currency systems remain relevant in ongoing debates about financial sustainability and economic resilience.

Lietaer passed away on February 4, 2019, in Hoyerhagen, Germany, leaving behind a rich legacy of innovative thinking about money and its role in society.