previous - ideas - further
ID-14-5 Predictable Results. March 21st, 1986
LETSplay has been kept as simple as possible while reflecting
real conditions in the world.
It is intended to show the distinction between a scarce currency,
which tends to establish competitive processes, and one whose
supply responds to requirements.
The distribution of "cash" within the game will diverge on either
side of the initial $200 issue, so that some players will have
higher cash balances and others will have lower.
The "rich" will enjoy a trading advantage and will generally try
to maintain it.
This inevitably means constraint on the average transaction size
of "poor" players.
The "green" accounts will show that each player is able to
arrange trading without being particularly constrained by others.
Notice that these consequences emerge in even the simplest game,
where no "cash" money actually leaves or enters the community.
Variations in the cash supply will however aggravate the effect
since they emphasize the value of security, and encourage holding
money in reserve, for a rainy day.
The game also provides intelligible experience with the graphing
styles that are most effective in understanding LETSystem performance.
The experience of moving markers on the game charts will teach
the players how to interpret similar charts in real life.
This is the basic information by which the community manages the
balance of credit/commitment in a LETSystem.
Some little exposure to the game will allow any with concerns
about the stability of the process, or the potential risks of
different styles of use, to explore the possibilities in depth.
The most common anxiety, that people will take and not give, can
be seen to be of little concern.
This is so, largely because the consequences of such behaviour in
a LETSystem fall principally on the perpetrator, who becomes the
only real victim of his crime.
It requires a high proportion of such participants to detract
from the ability of the other players to gain value for their
dollars.
Landsman Community Services Ltd. ID-14-5 Page 1
ID-14-5 Predictable Results. March 21st, 1986
The process of the game clearly demonstrates the economic
advantage of dealing in goods and services with a high local
value added component.
Goods and services from outside sources that require cash dollars
are limited by the money supply available.
The implications for the development of local manufacturing and
agriculture are interesting.
Landsman Community Services Ltd. ID-14-5 Page 2
previous - ideas - further