When money is running short, print your own
An economic experiment in the Berkshires wins new attention in the COVID downturn.
By Julia HotzUpdated December 24, 2020, 5:00 a.m.
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A collage of the Berkshires local currency.Courtesy of the Schumacher Center for New Economics (Custom credit)
Last spring, shortly after it became clear that COVID-19 was more than just a little flu and that local shops would be down and out for more than just a little while, America got to wondering: How can we save small businesses?
Many commentators demanded quick federal relief. Some consumers went on gift card shopping sprees. And 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang tweeted a proposal combining the two â government-issued debit cards redeemable only at locally owned small businesses.