Money

Note: An asterisk (*) next to a source means it hasn’t yet been fully reviewed by the PTB team.

“Free banking” has been described as, “a laissez-faire monetary system without a central bank.” And “where something close to a free banking system was given a trial . . . the consensus among economic historians finds that it functioned better for the typical user of money and banking services than more heavily restricted systems.”

Free Banking & Competing Currencies

General theory & history – For details, Press Me!

Somalia (contemporary) – For details, Press Me!

Colombia (1871-1886) – For details, Press Me!

United States (19th century) – For details, Press Me!

Switzerland (1826-1881) – For details, Press Me!

Ireland (1824-1845) – For details, Press Me!

Canada (1817-1935) – For details, Press Me!

Foochow, China (19th century) – For details, Press Me!

United Kingdom (1800-1845) – For details, Press Me!

France (1796-1803) – For details, Press Me!

Australia (1788-1959) – For details, Press Me!

Emergent Currencies

Cryptocurrency – For details, Press Me!

Sheep, water, and cigarettes in Iraq (2007) – For details, Press Me!

Scrip-money in the United States (1820-1940) – For details, Press Me!

Primitive and ancient societies – For details, Press Me!

Electronic Money Transfer

Zimbabwe’s EcoCash – For details, Press Me!

Kenya’s M-PESA – For details, Press Me!

Credit Cards

PayPal

Venmo