Towards a Topology of Monetary Systems

Abstract

In a world facing complex social and environmental challenges, innovative approaches to monetary systems are essential. Motivated by concerns for both society and ecology, our group developed the concept of monetary topology as a framework for evaluating and comparing diverse monetary systems. This framework is structured around six key themes: the legislator, monetary institution, emission rules, usage conditions, coinage, and operational properties, along with their social and ecological consequences. Each theme is decomposed into objective characteristics, enabling a systematic and multidimensional analysis. Monetary topology allows for the identification of strengths, weaknesses, and contextual relevance across systems. It supports policymakers, researchers, and community leaders in designing and assessing monetary innovations aligned with social and ecological goals. To operationalize this framework, we created the “monetary comparator,” a digital tool in which each characteristic is evaluated across economic, social, and environmental axes. This article presents the structure of the tool and illustrates its application through a comparative analysis of two contrasting systems: a complementary currency for the common good and the free currency Ğ1 (June). Aligned with the principles of RAMICS, this work contributes to the collective effort to better understand, compare, and support diverse monetary experiments.