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
Cans of mackerel – For details, Press Me!
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