Synopsis
A lack of confidence in monetary institutions after the recent financial crash has led to a resurgence of public debate on the topic of monetary reform, reaching a level of political prominence unprecedented since the period after the Great Depression.
Whether privatizing money with Bitcoin, regionalizing it with regional currencies, or turning it into a state monopoly with either sovereign money or 'Modern Monetary Theory, the only economic utopians able to draw public attention in our post-crash world seem to be monetary reformers. Weber provides the first proper economic analysis of these modern monetary reform proposals, exposing their flaws and fallacies through critical examination.
From academics studying the political economy of finance to economic sociologists studying financial institutions, this book will appeal to scholars and students interested in monetary reform proposals and the viability of alternative currency systems, and more broadly, readers seeking a contemporary understanding of what money is and how it works today.
Provides an introductory explanation of how the monetary system works - how money is created, circulated and administered - whilst also highlighting concerns about potential issues in the system.
Gives the reader a better understanding of the post-crash financial landscape, and an academic grasp of the new concepts driving the headlines.
Offers a presentation, comparison, and critique of each of the major contemporary monetary reform proposals, rather than a weighted focus on one particular concept.
