Money in an Unequal World: Keith Hart and His Memory Bank

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Money in an Unequal World is a distinctly individualized exploration of the way currency has become a universal source of "social memory," and what this means in a global society now riding the latest wave of its transformation from "metallic objects to paper notes to electronic digits." Keith Hart, a teacher and social anthropologist, offers draws on a background that combines such eclectic pursuits as academics, entrepreneurship, and gambling. Also drawing upon philosophers of the "democratic revolution" like Locke, Kant, Marx, and Gandhi, he tackles this abstract tale by examining "the conjuncture of money and machines that makes our phase of economic history capitalist" and investigating "money and markets from a humanistic point of view." Inviting readers to discover the story in their own way--even recommending that one "dip into the argument at random, allowing your eye to rest where it finds fertile ground (and move on if it does not)"--Hart meanders in a basically linear and highly entertaining fashion from the struggle against the agrarian hierarchy to the collapse of Stalinism and the rise of the Web. Ultimately, he concludes that changes apparent today actually provide an unprecedented opportunity to improve the world using money and markets as instruments of "economic democracy." His argument is provocative and illuminating. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

Hart believes that humanity stands on the threshold of a new era in which there will be a pressing need to develop, conceptually and in practice, an awareness of the common problems facing world society as a whole. We have scarcely begun to contemplate how to establish and maintain the social, technological and cultural infrastructures we will need to survive in the 21st century. In a polarized world characterized by staggering economic inequalities, recent advances in technology offer radical possibilities for the development of human freedom and equality. Hart?s particular focus in this book is the Internet, which he argues holds the potential for a re-personalization of economic relations. In this world, new means of exchange could be harnessed to the ends of a truer economic democracy. Money is the problem, but it is also the solution. Hart, an anthropologist by training, offers a new view on the interaction between money, capitalism, and culture ? now, in the future, and throughout history. The many important strands of thought and experience in this book will challenge established views from all quarters of economic, political, and social thought.

Customer Reviews:

history of money.......2004-11-23

A rare book in that it provides cross disciplinary thought about the history of economic transactions, with more. The book is full of information and wit; it is easily readable to anyone that is used to reading academic material and offers unique thought fodder for those that are seriously interested in the world and its condition. The book is informative and aims not at advocating ideology. While this is strength the book may leave the reader a little disappointed, due to the fact that Hart offers brilliant analysis but offers no real solutions. Still, if he did that would be something on the scale of an economic enlightenment. Seemingly Hart hopes that a reader may take the matter into consideration and hopefully come up with something very interesting.

I recommend this book.

What is money? Do *you* know?.......2002-08-20

Money In An Unequal World is one of those key-stone books that should (must) be read by those who think they know about economy, and by those who believe that knowing about economy's single most important tool -money- is unnecessary. Keith Hart goes beyond a simple analysis of what money is. He places money in a context, in the past and the present, as well as in the future. If we are puzzled by what's happening with the stock market, or with the `unprecedented' economic collapse of countries such as Argentina, wondering how it is possible that within a week three million middle-class citizens suddenly became the New Poor of our era (with no fault of their own ... except perhaps trust in a system -the banking system- that makes us believe `our' money is in good hands), we'll gain some insight from reading Hart's book and perhaps make some urgent decisions of our own. We'll find out that `our' money isn't ours, that our choice to work isn't really a choice, because we're pressured to earn `their' money for it's the only money available and it has very definite rules ... which most of us happen to ignore, and side-effects ... which most of us prefer not to admit are there.
Money In An Unequal World will pull the veil off of money. Are we depressed because we lack enough to fulfill our dreams ... or even our most basic survival needs? Well, one of the characteristics of `their' money is that it's scarce. If it's scarce, there won't be enough, and if there isn't enough and the value can be made to drop or rise without our consent or even understanding of why this happens, then of course we'll see that suddenly, no matter how much we work, a decision made by `them' will make it possible for our savings to drop in value by fifty percent, a hundred percent, or three hundred percent, as in Argentina, or five-hundred percent, as it occurred in Ecuador during 1999. Is it fair? Who makes the rules? Why aren't we asked if this is right? The answer is simple: because we are, among 99 percent of the world's population (including most economists), unaware that money is one of the prime reasons why we live in an unequal world. As Keith Hart himself writes: "For all the rhetoric of freedom that abounds in our societies, state capitalism is based on legal and economic coercion, on the ancient principle of territorial monopoly and on the newer one of having to sell oneself in order to live. State power looks as if it is on the wane; and, while the world's money system totters from one crisis to the next, the concentration of economic power in the hands of a few large corporations seems inexorable. This is our chance to find new forms of political association, more appropriate to popular needs, and perhaps even to subvert the dominance of a capitalism enjoying the fruits of globalization."
Not that Hart is against capitalism as such, but since certain expression end up meaning something much different than at first, he would prefer that we enter an era of "economic democracy" in which we also have a vote as to the kind of money we are "allowed" to use. But before we can vote, it might be a good idea to read his Money... in order to understand what choices we have. Hart writes: "The immediate and long-run causes of economic inequality, therefore, are an unfair and unstable system of money-making (...)" among others, and "Virtual capitalism has exacerbated this by marginalizing whole sectors of the world economy where agriculture and mining are predominant, as well as by unleashing savage swings in the money system that can impoverish national economies at a single blow." As in Argentina?
As it's happening or could happen in most of the world ... ?

Brilliant.......2001-12-05

Marx and Engels figured out capitalism. This guy has figured out money.

Academic treatise that covers the topic.......2001-11-23

Dr. Keith Hart is a distinguished social anthropologist, widely published author, and scholar who has taught on both sides of the Atlantic. He is currently a professor and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He has served on the faculties of Cambridge, Yale, University of Manchester, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, and McGill University.

This background should tell you something already about the author's perspective and what this book will be like. "Money in an Unequal World" is a deep academic treatment of the role of money in society. For those engaged in the study of this topic, this book offers a revolutionary way of rethinking money and society. Hart addresses how internet access separates societies by controlling their access to money and commerce. He shows how money that transfers outside national controls-and taxes-gives some the distinct advantage of being able to use "wild money." Virtual capitalism will change the money balance in the world.

You will find a tremendous amount of information and commentary packed into this book. Expect to encounter page after page of small print text without illustrations. There are nine tables and figures in the entire book. For the serious reader on this topic, this is a page-turner. For the occasional reader in this field, this will feel like a highly focused textbook. In the introduction, Hart describes the book as being written from memory, but each chapter is backed-up by an abundance of footnotes. Fortunately, the book is indexed to help readers find particular areas of interest.

While we can certainly appreciate Dr. Hart writing such a book from his ivory-tower perspective and manner, there are some really interesting aspects of this topic of value to the lay reader. Unfortunately, the design and languaging of the book does not appeal to that market.

If this topic interests you, I recommend this book. If it does not hold high academic interest, move on to another book on the topic. You'll get bogged down in this one.

Book Description

Zimbabwe has recently come to the attention to global strategic planners. This report puts these executives on the fast track. Ten chapters provide: an overview of how to strategically access this important market, a discussion on economic fundamentals, marketing & distribution options, export and direct investment options, and full risk assessments (political, cultural, legal, human resources). Ample statistical benchmarks and comparative graphs are given.

Book Description

Guide to Correspondence in French includes instructions on drafting business and social letters. Numerous samples letters provide models you can use for your own correspondence.

Customer Reviews:

A good reference for beginners.......2004-01-19

It's a small book meant for quick references. The topics covered are not extensive, but are helpful if you need ideas to compose a simple letter in French.

French Business Correspondence (Languages for Business)

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Too many examples without deeper info about them

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In the war for Web dominance, the site that converts visitors into loyal customers is the winner! When potential customers drop by a site, they expect an experience that's fast, hassle-free, and packed with useful features--otherwise they'll click that "Back" button and be gone...maybe forever!

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Customer Reviews:

Make the best use of the best technologies.......2006-02-28

Those businesses that make the best use of the best technologies available are the truly innovative and solid e-businesses. The most successful of these companies are the ones that recognize that a retail sale is still a very human activity and requires a mix of technology and personalization. Marketing and promotions are still required; however, the internet requires technology upgrades at a greater rate. There are still three keys of retail, and these objectives must be met properly utilizing the latest technologies in order to be successful:

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Arm Yourself for the "Digital Arena".......2001-07-26

In the Preface, Gutzman explains that her book "is designed to tell you what the must-have technologies are for your Web site, with resources listing vendors for each technology. However, new vendors are entering the field daily. For example, for the technology I discuss in the Epiloque, alternative payment systems, I received three press releases in the week before the book went to the printer. In fact, this book has been difficult to write because I have never felt that any chapter was finished." Nor could one be. There are several reasons why I thus begin this brief commentary. First, to indicate that Gutzman focuses on "must-have technologies" rather than on, for example, specific strategies and tactics. Also, to indicate (as does she) how rapidly circumstances in the "digital arena" can change. Finally, to suggest that a Web site is never "finished." Gutzman organizes her material within five Parts: The E-Commerce Climate, Technologies for Driving Traffic, Technologies for Making Buying Easier, Technologies for Customer Service, and finally, Turnkey Growth. Of special interest to me are the various "Case Studies" of exemplar companies and technology applications. Also various "Profiles" such as those of "Net Perceptions", "Soliloquy" and "BroadVision", each of which briefly discusses specific functions, features, and benefits of specific technologies. As a non-technical person, I commend Gutzman on creating access for me to subjects which can sometimes be daunting, if not intimidating.

Gutzman's is a "three-pronged strategy" for meeting your demands: implement essential technologies, maintain a flexible business model, and outsource everything. Think of the material in her book as if it were on display in a store which you enter, tool box in hand. Roam the aisles. Examine various clusters of items. She is your expert advisor as well as the store's proprietress. (I strongly suspect that she had this metaphor in mind when writing the book.) Over time, all of your questions are answered. She helps you to make appropriate selections. In process, she has helped you to understand not only what you need and how to use it but also why you need it. Effective use of the 12 "must have" technologies will drive traffic to the Web site, create and sustain Web site functionality, and facilitate customer service which ensures that the Web site will be ETDBW (Easy to Do Business With). In the Epilogue, Gutzman adds another "must have" technology: alternative payment systems.

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