Nowadays we are all well versed in terms such as currency, cash flow, economic dividend, exchange rate, and so on – they are words which have become a part of daily life, and they all mean money. They are the ideas we use when we want to acquire goods or services, and they are a major element of the way the world runs. Because of this, we are apt to forget that sometimes there are other ways of gaining or giving items.

After all, money – meaning coins, notes or other legal tender – as a universal form of exchange is actually a relatively recent innovation. Even not so long ago there were rural areas where money was looked upon with suspicion. Certainly it’s not something that comes automatically and immediately with the growth of every community of people. So, what was the earlier alternative? Well, [...]