The Future of Money 

12th December 2009, 9.00-5.30, 3rd Floor, Bush House, Bristol

The future of many valuable and important projects today depends on the way money and capital are understood, both in ideal and practical terms. If life is not to be marked by a ceaseless and unhealthy chase after money, which then acts more as our master than our servant, we have to find new ways of linking capital to concrete initiatives. And to do so more cooperatively than competitively. And in ways that make sense at both the micro and macro ends of economic life. The only medium that operates at both ends and all points in between and that is cross-party and cross-ideology, as befits a true economic paradigm, is accounting. But not accounting as we usually understand it…

In this workshop, the aspirations and projects of participants will be looked at from the point of view that money and accounting, having long been separate, have now become one. In doing so, they provide a bridge for overcoming the divide between ‘mainstream’ and ‘alternative’ economics, on which the ‘success’ of transition towns, local pounds, LETS and similar undertakings depend for their longevity and wider, replicable impact.

The workshop will be led by Christopher Houghton Budd, an economic and monetary historian with a doctorate in banking and international finance, who travels widely as an educator and consultant. Combining both business and academic backgrounds, his experience ranges widely from ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ economics to central banking and financial markets.

Here's four questions for your organisation that Christopher would want to encourage you to look at with him:

Project questions.doc

Programme for 12th December:

09:30 – 10:30   How Money and Accounting became One

   Pause

11:00 – 12:30   Working Discussion I*

   Lunch

14:00 – 15:00   The Nuts and Bolts of Accounting-Money

   Pause

15:30 – 17:00   Working Discussion II*

17:00 – 17:30   Closing session

* Based on case studying participants’ question and projects

Invitation to The Future of Money in Bristol

Saturday 12th December, 3rd Floor Bush House, Bristol

•    Does your relationship with money and economics stop you living the life you aspire to?

•    Does money serve you and your dreams or do you serve money?

Recently I have been fortunate to be introduced to Dr. Christopher Houghton Budd an economic and monetary historian with a doctorate in banking and international finance.

The understanding he has is most insightful and inspired me to start studying his writings and which are giving me answers to questions I have had unanswered for many, many years.

I have long been aware that money is not what it seems to be and that there are some enormous problems with the existing financial and economic system that contribute very significantly to the way we humans have ended up “trashing” the planet we rely on for our, and others’, present and future survival and well-being.

Christopher has some wonderfully good answers to these problems. These answers are based on an understanding of the systems that are actually there (and how they have evolved to be what they are) and of human nature. He understands both the macro and the micro (and how they connect).

We all know of projects that would make our world more satisfactory. What the workshop is intending to do is to look very practically at some of these projects and discover what theory and what practice is needed to make them more likely to succeed.

There is a secondary objective which is to explore the processes involved in learning, teaching, and learning to teach the importance of sound economics, so that we all can benefit from the advantages of living in a financially literate society.

I am convinced that this is a really important initiative so I have agreed that I will borrow the money from my bank to cover the cost of the workshop. I am hoping to recoup the costs or even make a profit to invest in the next one (which will probably be 2 days in January next year), but what is most important is that some initial learning and development takes place.

We will be using the principles of “Associative economics” as best we can. As I understand it, this means amongst other things being transparent about the costs. The budget is on the Wiki site http://futureofmoneyinbristol.pbworks.com/FrontPage that has been set up for this workshop. If we have 10 people attending the average cost per person to break even will be £67, but some people will not be able to afford that much.

If you are involved in one or more projects that you really care about and want to be practical in how they manifest their potential, this workshop will be incredibly useful.

Please get in touch with me to discuss its relevance for you because we want to make sure that real in depth conversations take place and there is a practical focus on specific projects so that the general principles and processes become clear that everyone can apply in their lives.

Paul Baker 07828882213 or 01179681979 paulbakerandcompany@googlemail.com

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