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Greening monies : Three trajectories for the socio-environmental transformation

Barinaga, Ester LU orcid (2026) In Zeitschrift für theoretische Soziologie Sonderband(6). p.78-101
Abstract
Money is central to capitalism and its sustainability crises. This article argues that it is not money itself, but its internal design and governance – how it is created, distributed, and governed – that drives inequality, ecological degradation, and unsustainable growth. Yet, money’s architecture is not fixed; it can be reimagined to foster fairer, greener economies.
Approaching money as a socio-technical assemblage, the article first traces how conventional money creation – dominated by private banks – fuels environmental and social harm. It then examines three innovative monetary initiatives –Turuta, Vilawatt, and Plastic Bank – each redesigning money to align economic activity with ecological care. These initiatives embody distinct... (More)
Money is central to capitalism and its sustainability crises. This article argues that it is not money itself, but its internal design and governance – how it is created, distributed, and governed – that drives inequality, ecological degradation, and unsustainable growth. Yet, money’s architecture is not fixed; it can be reimagined to foster fairer, greener economies.
Approaching money as a socio-technical assemblage, the article first traces how conventional money creation – dominated by private banks – fuels environmental and social harm. It then examines three innovative monetary initiatives –Turuta, Vilawatt, and Plastic Bank – each redesigning money to align economic activity with ecological care. These initiatives embody distinct organizing principles: the commons (Turuta), the state (Vilawatt), and the market (Plastic Bank). By embedding environmental stewardship into monetary rules, they reshape individual agency and collective action, offering pathways toward a just and sustainable future. In rethinking money, these experiments open new horizons for civilizational change. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
money, socio-ecological transformation, complementary currencies, monetary design, monetary governance, commons
in
Zeitschrift für theoretische Soziologie
volume
Sonderband
issue
6
pages
78 - 101
publisher
Beltz, Weinheim
ISSN
2195-0695
DOI
10.3262/978-3-7799-9960-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d9355214-0b25-4e15-a6f4-eb1306ef6c9f
alternative location
https://content-select.com/de/portal/media/download_oa/9783779999607/?client_id=406
date added to LUP
2026-05-28 12:20:29
date last changed
2026-06-04 08:20:05
@article{d9355214-0b25-4e15-a6f4-eb1306ef6c9f,
  abstract     = {{Money is central to capitalism and its sustainability crises. This article argues that it is not money itself, but its internal design and governance – how it is created, distributed, and governed – that drives inequality, ecological degradation, and unsustainable growth. Yet, money’s architecture is not fixed; it can be reimagined to foster fairer, greener economies.<br/>Approaching money as a socio-technical assemblage, the article first traces how conventional money creation – dominated by private banks – fuels environmental and social harm. It then examines three innovative monetary initiatives –Turuta, Vilawatt, and Plastic Bank – each redesigning money to align economic activity with ecological care. These initiatives embody distinct organizing principles: the commons (Turuta), the state (Vilawatt), and the market (Plastic Bank). By embedding environmental stewardship into monetary rules, they reshape individual agency and collective action, offering pathways toward a just and sustainable future. In rethinking money, these experiments open new horizons for civilizational change.}},
  author       = {{Barinaga, Ester}},
  issn         = {{2195-0695}},
  keywords     = {{money; socio-ecological transformation; complementary currencies; monetary design; monetary governance; commons}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{78--101}},
  publisher    = {{Beltz, Weinheim}},
  series       = {{Zeitschrift für theoretische Soziologie}},
  title        = {{Greening monies : Three trajectories for the socio-environmental transformation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3262/978-3-7799-9960-7}},
  doi          = {{10.3262/978-3-7799-9960-7}},
  volume       = {{Sonderband}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}