Funny Money: Could Localized Currency Spur Style Sales?

Here's a good one for all you commies, kibbutzniks, and Monopoly fans out there—Consumerist notes that some Minnesota communities are developing their own currencies, "in order to encourage people to shop at home instead of Walmart." Customers would exchange U.S. tender for, say, "Smithtown Dollars," which would be worth more at locally owned stores and businesses. Kinda nice, hunh? Certainly, we would love the idea of being able to pump a little bit more into our favorite stores, and get a little bit more out of them, with the introduction of 'Berg Bucks, Soho Pesos, and the Lower East Side Pound Sterling. Cha-ching! Would you grabn some funny money before heading to Opening Ceremony? (Consumerist)

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