6 things that could replace paper money

[Forever Sunshine]

Cash -- who needs it?

"Although predictions about the end of cash are as old as credit cards, a number of developments are ganging up on paper and metal money like never before," writes author David Wolman in his recently released book "The End of Money."

What are those developments? Wolman identifies "mistrust of national currencies, novel payment tools, anxiety about government debt, the triumph of mobile phones, the rise of virtual and alternative currencies, environmental concerns and a wave of evidence showing that physical money is most harmful to the billions of people who have so little of it."

So what could replace money as we know it? Of course, cashless electronic payments are the sexiest, most forward-looking option. But there are other, more old-school items of value that could essentially fill the same role as today's currencies, having value in the eyes of millions or billions of people worldwide.

To work, they would have to be like commodities: The goods must not only have value but meet some kind of general standard.

money.msn.com/investing/6-things-that-could-replace-paper-money

[weltschmerz]

6 things that could replace paper money
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Well, we're replacing paper money with coins and plastic bills with see-through windows.

[weltschmerz]

[kelly]

I wish they would find something to replace paper money.Sometimes the notes are dirty they must be alive with germs. I use my credit card nearly all the time.

[starlight07]

Jun 23, 2012 3:36:52 GMT -5 kelly said:

I wish they would find something to replace paper money.Sometimes the notes are dirty they must be alive with germs. I use my credit card nearly all the time.

Hehe Kelly, but let's not forget that coins are dirty and germful too. I sometimes smell my hands after handling coins and notes and they smell really bad.