Alternative Economics
This website explores alternative forms of economies to contemporary capitalist market economies. The first three columns from the left represent alternative economic systems that are currently practiced nationally and internationally. "Decolonized Economics" and "Informal Economy" investigate various economies and practices that are not accounted for in the traditional capitalist economy. The last column on the far right provides direction and resources for further research.
Non-Market Exchange Systems |
International Trade Alternative Systems |
Alternative Currency Systems |
Decolonized Economics |
Informal Economy |
Research Guides |
In today's world, "non-market exchange systems" occur virtually in which individuals and/or communities can engage in bartering and in the interchange of goods and information. |
National governments, non-profit organizations, and individuals engage in various trade systems, maintain an open discourse on the manners and goods of the trade, and exclude financial institutions from these processes. | "Alternative currencies" refer to any currency circulated and used as an alternative to the dominant national or multinational currency. Nowadays, virtual currencies and credits are considered alternative currencies. | Substinence living that relies on personal or communal production rather than on an international market economy is an example of how rural communities maintain and urban areas explore decolonized economies. | Any activity that is not taxed, not monitored by the government, or does not include any GNP is considered to contribrute to the informal sectors of the economy. | The following guides provide direction and are resources for further research. Investigate the critiques and controversies over alternative economic systems. Links to engage in online discussions are also offered. |
| Bartercard | The "BRICS" Economies | Beginning Research | |||
| Hawala (hə-wäˈlə): Remittance System | Collaborative Finance | The Universal Currency Clearinghouse(The UC); associated with IRTA | Reference Materials | ||
| Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) | International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) | Glossary and Further Reading | |||
| National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE) | |||||
| Discussion | |||||
| Peer-to-Peer Lending | Participating Countries |