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Regional currencies in Germany - eg. Urstromtaler

Local alternatives to the the Euro

Toytown Germany > Discussion forum > Germany-wide > German news
gregca
Jan 25 2007, 12:26 pm
Daily Telegraph: Germans get by without the euro

QUOTE (Telegraph)
If you live in the Bavarian region of Chiemgau, you can exist for months at a time in a euro-free zone of hills and lakes with a population of half a million people. Restaurants, bakeries, hairdressers and a network of supermarkets will accept the local currency: the Chiemgauer. Notes are exchanged freely like legal tender. You can even use a debit card. Petrol stations are still a problem, but biofuel outlets are signing up. Dentists are next. The Chiemgauer is one of 16 regional currencies that have sprung into existence across Germany and Austria since the launch of the euro five years ago.

I just thought this might interest some of you out there. I found it last week and it was a complete surprise to me.

I know that in the UK, there are cooperatives that can trade without currencies using credits.

I also asked some German locals if they had come across this phenomenon and it was news to them too.

Maybe some of you out there are upto date with this and have first hand experience. What do you think?
MonksTown
Jan 25 2007, 1:25 pm
Not really news; just a chance for the Torygraph to have a rant about the Euro.

eg. "replaced in turn by a stateless technocrat currency ever further removed from local life".

So having a the matriarch of a dysfunctional family's head on the notes brings the currency "nearer" to everyone in Britain?

What tosh! laugh.gif

Such non-cash schemes operate everywhere. We have one in an eV I'm a member of and it represents sometimes over 25% of a days turnover.
Deccie
Feb 6 2007, 4:23 pm
Urstromtaler is a local currency in the City of Magdeburg to encourage local spending, and to spend your hard earned cash quickly, while encouraging local produce purchasing. The local currency stays in the locality, used from many local business. Notes are eschanged at a 1:1 rate with the Euro.

BBC News: Urstromtaler

QUOTE (BBC News)
More than 200 businesses are using the regional currency, including shops, bakeries, florists, restaurants. There is even a cinema which accepts Urstromtaler.



Topics merged by admin
Malt-Teaser
Feb 6 2007, 6:01 pm
In spite fo the official currency being the Euro, many citizens of Magedeberg prefer to use their own local currency the Urstromtaler.

The urstromtaler is a local currency, issued and used only in Magdeberg and can be exchanged with the Euro at an exchange rate of 1:1.
As the notes have a "best by" (Or is that a best BUY?) date, people are encouraged to spend their money quickly which in turn, helps support and boost the local economy.

More than 200 businesses are using the regional currency, including shops, bakeries, florists, restaurants. There is even a cinema which accepts Urstromtaler.
The currency is official, in that the local businesses have signed contracts to accept the urstromtaler and their is even an Urstromtaler central bank - albeit no larger than an office!

More information via BBC News: Germans take pride in local money

Topics merged by admin
Jeeves
Feb 6 2007, 6:16 pm
Interesting project. Clearly not unique:

QUOTE (BBC News)
Regional currencies have sprung up all over Germany.

Oh and it's MagdebUrg.
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