The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 9, March 4, 2007, Article 21

BERKSHARES: ALTERNATE CURRENCY FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA

Last Sunday, February 25th, The New York Times published an article
on BerkShares, the alternate currency of Berkshire County, MA promoted
by Susan Witt, director of the E. F. Schumacher Society, which
promotes concepts like regionally based economies.

"So began this area's great socioeconomic experiment, one in which several
dozen businesses agreed to include an alternative currency in their
daily transactions and give a discount to those who used it.

"Now people can pay for groceries, an oil change, even dental work with
currency bearing the likenesses of local heroes like Herman Melville and
Norman Rockwell.

"The central purpose behind BerkShares is to strengthen the local
economy, perhaps even inoculate it against the whims of globalization,
by encouraging people to support local businesses. Amazon does not
accept BerkShares, for example, but the Bookloft on Route 7 does.

"Five months into the experiment, some people embrace it, some endure
it, some ignore it altogether. At the very least, BerkShares have
reminded everyone just how complex this thing called community is."

To read the complete article (subscription required) see:
Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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