Most of us use money every day. But what is it, and where does it come from? In this subtopic, we learn that money is more than coins, notes, or numbers on a screen. Money is part of a system made by people, shaped by values, trust, and power.
We start by learning how money systems have parts (like people, rules, and institutions), relationships (such as trust or control), and functions (like exchange or debt settlement). We then uncover the real history of money, which is very different from the barter stories in textbooks. From clay tablets in Mesopotamia to mobile money in Kenya, money has always been based on shared understanding and social agreements.
We also explore how money is created today, mostly by private commercial banks when they make loans. We look at how money affects social relationships, both connecting and separating people. And we examine how it’s connected with Earth systems. Finally, we examine powerful money stories: that money is scarce, neutral, or beyond our control. These stories shape how we think and act, but they can be challenged.
By understanding money as a system, we can imagine new possibilities. Could money systems be designed to support care, equality, and regeneration? This subtopic gives you the tools to ask better questions, and start designing better futures.
At the end of Subtopic 6.1 you should be able to:
describe money as a system with parts, relationships and functions
outline the historical origins of different money systems and their functions
explain how forms of money are created in modern money systems
explain how money systems can both strengthen and weaken human relationships through values, power, narratives and social norms
explain how money is connected to Earth systems, often invisibly, and creates unequal access to resources
outline narratives that reinforce current money systems including: money is scarce, money is neutral, and we can’t change the money system