Euros discarded as impoverished Greeks resort to bartering

[marmar]

Euros discarded as impoverished Greeks resort to bartering
Communities set up local currencies and exchange networks in attempt to beat the economic crisis

Helena Smith in Volos
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 2 January 2013


It's been a busy day at the market in downtown Volos. Angeliki Ioanitou has sold a decent quantity of olive oil and soap, while her friend Maria has done good business with her fresh pies.

But not a single euro has changed hands – none of the customers on this drizzly Saturday morning has bothered carrying money at all. For many, browsing through the racks of second-hand clothes, electrical appliances and homemade jams, the need to survive means money has been usurped.

"It's all about exchange and solidarity, helping one another out in these very hard times," enthused Ioanitou, her hair tucked under a floppy felt cap. "You could say a lot of us have dreams of a utopia without the euro."

In this bustling port city at the foot of Mount Pelion, in the heart of Greece's most fertile plain, locals have come up with a novel way of dealing with austerity – adopting their own alternative currency, known as the Tem. As the country struggles with its worst crisis in modern times, with Greeks losing up to 40% of their disposable income as a result of policies imposed in exchange for international aid, the system has been a huge success. Organisers say some 1,300 people have signed up to the informal bartering network. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/02/euro-greece-barter-poverty-crisis?INTCMP=SRCH

[TrogL]

1. The government won't be getting any tax revenue out of bartering

[unblock]

2. in the u.s. at least, bartering income is still taxable (not that anyone pays it).

if a plumber and an electrician trade $500 worth of services on each other's house, they each owe taxes on $500 even if no actual money changed hands.

it's virtually impossible for the goverment to enforce this, but technically it's illegal if you don't declare it as income and pay taxes on it.

[xchrom]

3. Du rec. Nt

[derby378]

4. I originally created this Mixcloud suite for America's debt crisis, but nowadays...

...I think it better relates to the travesty in Greece.

Click HERE for "Music for Governments to Default By"

[JNelson6563]

5. Excellent article.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. and so it begins.

[annabanana]

7. Take THAT austerity hounds!

Good. People will always do what they have to.

[bvar22]

8. My Wife & I have been promoting a Barter Network in our rural area.

We went "On Strike" in 2006,
sold everything,
moved to The Woods,
and started growing our own food.
We keep chickens and Honey Bees too.

We avoid buying anything NEW whenever possible,
preferring 2nd Hand directly from the previous owner,
and offer a barter exchange of either labor or goods whenever possible.
Fresh Free Range Eggs go a long way,
but local Honey is even better.
Everybody wants that.

The local Barter Network was established among the rural residents long before we got here, but we participate, and encourage its growth, along with other local humanitarian concerns.

We are managing to live well on a laughably low "taxable" income,
and stuff we learned in the 60s.


My Wife & I have a complimentary set of skills that make this fun most of the time,
but its not for everybody.


"One Love! One Heart!
Let's get together and feel all right."

--bvar22 & Starkraven
Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas

[RomneyLies]

9. Economically speeking, Greece is in a Depression. n/t