Cooperation and Intertrade between Community Currencies

Cooperation, interchange or intertrade of complementary currencies is not yet very common, perhaps of because the funding impulse of most complementary currencies does not cover the question of interchange and cooperation yet, or because theoretical aspects are not often studied. The article describes money or currency as an instrument of cooperation, based on a sociological and institutional economics background. It then postulates currency as an operating system and focuses on the technical terms of trade if one would try to establish cooperation between such systems. Basic principles of interchange and intertrade, which are necessary for success, are presented, such as the ideas of trade balance, compensation funds, exchange rates and clearing, set-points and limits, references, anchoring money and tolls and taxes. Further some aspects of governance and negotiation are discussed and a nested framework of rules is adapted to currencies. As an Appendix a case study of the Zurich region is presented where a process of negotiation and building of an interchange network between several CC-groups is on-going

Ansätze zur Entwicklung eines neuen Vollgenossenschaftsmodells mit integrierter Währung

This transdisciplinary work develops a new business model for cooperatives: The full cooperative, which enables a regionally based, sustainable, climate-friendly and peaceful way of doing business and living. The basic principles are derived from the ideal image and practice of historical full cooperatives. Taking into account organisational theory, system theory and monetary theories, a new organisational form is outlined that could develop greater resilience in the preservation and implementation of cooperative values and goals. The model involves a consistent merging of production and consumption, uses an internal monetary system and calls for extensive participation of its members.PublishedDiese transdisziplinäre Arbeit entwickelt ein neues Unternehmensmodell für Genossenschaften: Die Vollgenossenschaft, die eine regional abgestützte, nachhaltige, klimaschonende und friedvolle Wirtschafts- und Lebensweise ermöglicht. Die Grundlagen werden aus dem Idealbild und der Praxis von historischen Vollgenossenschaften abgeleitet. Unter Einbezug von Organisationstheorie, Systemtheorie und monetären Theorien wird eine neue Organisationsform skizziert, die größere Widerstandskraft in der Bewahrung und Umsetzung der genossenschaftlichen Werte und Ziele entfalten könnte. Das Modell beinhaltet eine konsequente Zusammenführung von Produktion und Konsum, verwendet ein internes Währungssystem und fordert eine umfassende Partizipation seiner Mitglieder

Influence of Short-Term Glucocorticoid Therapy on Regulatory T Cells In Vivo

Background: Pre- and early clinical studies on patients with autoimmune diseases suggested that induction of regulatory T(Treg) cells may contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids(GCs). Objective: We readdressed the influence of GC therapy on Treg cells in immunocompetent human subjects and naı¨ve mice. Methods: Mice were treated with increasing doses of intravenous dexamethasone followed by oral taper, and Treg cells in spleen and blood were analyzed by FACS. Sixteen patients with sudden hearing loss but without an inflammatory disease received high-dose intravenous prednisolone followed by stepwise dose reduction to low oral prednisolone. Peripheral blood Treg cells were analyzed prior and after a 14 day GC therapy based on different markers. Results: Repeated GC administration to mice for three days dose-dependently decreased the absolute numbers of Treg cells in blood (100 mg dexamethasone/kg body weight: 2.861.86104 cells/ml vs. 336116104 in control mice) and spleen (dexamethasone: 2.861.96105/spleen vs. 956226105/spleen in control mice), which slowly recovered after 14 days taper in spleen but not in blood. The relative frequency of FOXP3+ Treg cells amongst the CD4+ T cells also decreased in a dose dependent manner with the effect being more pronounced in blood than in spleen. The suppressive capacity of Treg cells was unaltered by GC treatment in vitro. In immunocompetent humans, GCs induced mild T cell lymphocytosis. However, it did not change the relative frequency of circulating Treg cells in a relevant manner, although there was some variation depending on the definition of the Treg cells (FOXP3+: 4.061.5% vs 3.461.5%*; AITR+: 0.660.4 vs 0.560.3%, CD127low: 4.061.3 vs 5.063.0%* and CTLA4+: 13.8611.5 vs 15.6612.5%; * p,0.05). Conclusion: Short-term GC therapy does not induce the hitherto supposed increase in circulating Treg cell frequency, neither in immunocompetent humans nor in mice. Thus, it is questionable that the clinical efficacy of GCs is achieved by modulating Treg cell numbers

Monetary velocity in a systemic perspective : an approach towards more accurate currency thinking

The concept of velocity of money also called velocity of circulation of money is part of the Quantity Theory of Money. One intention of this concept has been to connect price-based equilibrium theories (where money is de facto left out) to money. The idea was a variable velocity, which describes how fast the existing money (thought in pieces of gold or in bills) would circulate. To question it allows an insight into the paradigmatic base in economic thinking and leads to a different approach of the flow of money, which might help to better shape the task of money in today’s economy. The author tries to reconsider the "velocity-idea" by considering very carefully the real money-flow-phenomena in a simple small-scale complementary currency. By changing from a market-centred-view to a money-centred-view it is his aim to focus on the construction of currency. The reciprocal quality of currency and the time bound qualities of payment are described and the money supply is defined. By a time slice method the dynamic money-flow phenomena can be visualized. The results are then merged into the velocity-equation and discussed again. This systemic approach allows a more accurate view on monetary flow phenomena of closed systems. Such a systemic approach could be further elaborated and might open some new perspectives for the understanding or simulation of monetary economies

The district currency : a new currency design for managing the commons

Most schemes of complementary currencies developed in the last 50 years are based on the “money as a means of exchange” concept, which means exchange of individual agents based on their indi-vidual needs and offers. The individual person or is an actor in a network and by establishing a market it is possible to exchange goods and services. Mutual Credit systems LETS or Timebanks support mostly this market case and many of them limit common activities to the sole operation of the system itself. Therefore, community currencies today are often currencies operating within a community but not necessary for the community. The case of a commons is mostly not recognized as a completely different kind of exchange where needs of a whole group have to be satisfied through offers of individuals and offers of the whole (commons) have to be shared among the indi-vidual members. Such an exchange asks for different features from a community currency. This was the starting point of a project in Zurich, Switzerland to develop a more suitable and effective cur-rency on the commons idea. It is the needs and tasks of the community, the public (community) goods and common tasks which are the core and drivers of the currency. As a secondary element the traditional individual market-based system complements this common layer and strengthens its impact. Therefore, it could be seen as a two tiers model. The paper describes basics, premises and functions of the idea including some historical background and more specifically the case of Wörgel in Austria which has some interesting aspects still not widely taken into consideration. The main features of the district currency model include intended and controllable circulation, demo-cratic decision of spending and budgeting and a commons-based value system. The currency was developed along a case study in a housing co-operative in Zurich. Experiences with the planning district-currency-game give some important hints for the feasibility and the functioning of such an improved currency model and the open questions remaining to be answered

Promotors : necessary drivers of viable, project-oriented organizations

This article shows how promotors work together in the fundamental organizational transformation towards a project-oriented organization, what contributions they make, and how several promotors complement each other. The theoretical base is the promotor theory developed by Witte, Hauschildt and Gemünden. This theory explains how the three key roles of expert, power and process promotor jointly overcome the barriers of not knowing an innovation, not wanting an innovation, and not being allowed to innovate. The empirical base is a longitudinal study of eight companies over the different stages of their transformation process. 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with top managers, middle managers with line functions, and project managers, transcribed and systematically evaluated. The analysis of the key persons comprises three aspects: the promotors, their opponents, and the cooperation of the promotors in a promotor structure. The results show that the three different types of promotors drive the transformation process of creating a truly project-oriented organization. Thus, the promotor theory does not only apply to new product innovations ventures that realize higher benefits through new technologies and better fulfillment of customer needs, but also for management innovations that transform the management system of an organization. Contrary to the expectations raised in the literature, the organizational transformation was not only a matter of senior management commitment, and good process management. Rather, the role of the expert promotor was very important, because the competences of the project-oriented organization comprises a wide range of different capabilities that are practiced not only in many temporary projects, but also in many different organizational units of the permanent organization that plan, control, staff, guide, and support projects to generate corporate success. Project management understanding and skills are therefore not only required from project managers that are assigned to lead a project, but also from responsible senior managers, project owners, project staffing units, project steering committees, project management offices, project portfolios boards, human resource managers, and knowledge managers

Decentralizing project management by a DAO : a first attempt

The technology of blockchain and its related concept of the decentral autonomous organization (DAO) is starting to influence the project management domain. But how might project management supported by blockchain technology look like? And how would such a new form change project management and affect its traditional principles? Not many concepts have been designed or even implemented here yet. We, therefore, chose an experimental framework in which to answer the first aspects of these questions. We developed a Decentralized Autonomous Project Organization (DAPO) and conducted an experiment with students to study the impact of blockchain technology on project management principles. Our findings show that such a blockchain-based approach works and brings interesting new mechanisms to the management of simple projects. Further, a fair and clear incentive scheme might be crucial and influence the way team members engage in the work. Also, more decentralized project management increases the importance of social aspects-related project management principles such as teamwork, self-organization, and cultural aspects, while principles related to budget, objectives, and schedule remain unchanged with blockchain. This first implementation of a DAPO was a success, was able to provide valuable insights into the implications of blockchain technology on project management and set the ground for further, more in-depth studies to differentiate and validate these initial findings

Organizing projects with blockchain through a decentralized autonomous organization

Blockchain and its related concept of decentral autonomous organization (DAO) is starting to influence project management. But how might project management supported by blockchain technology look like? And how would such a new form change and affect traditional project management? Not many concepts have been designed or even implemented yet. We chose an experimental framework to answer the first aspects of these questions. We developed a Decentralized Autonomous Project Organization (DAPO) and conducted an experiment to study the impact of blockchain on traditional project management. We show that such a blockchain-based approach can support the management of simple projects. Further, a fair and clear incentive scheme seems crucial and influences the way team members engage in the work. Also, more decentralized project management increases the importance of social aspects-related project management principles such as teamwork, self-organization, and cultural aspects, while principles related to budget, objectives, and schedule remain unchanged

Pancreatic Premalignant Lesions Secrete Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1, Which Activates Hepatic Stellate Cells Via CD63 Signaling to Create a Premetastatic Niche in the Liver

Background &amp; Aims Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) metastasizes to liver at early stages, making this disease highly lethal. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP1) creates a metastasis-susceptible environment in the liver. We investigated the role of TIMP1 and its receptor CD63 in metastasis of early-stage pancreatic tumors using mice and human cell lines and tissue samples. Methods We obtained liver and plasma samples from patients in Germany with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia, or PDAC, as well as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). We performed studies with Ptf1a+/Cre;Kras+/LSL-G12D;Trp53loxP/loxP (CPK) mice, Pdx-1+/Cre;Kras+/LSL-G12D;Trp53+/LSL-R172H (KPC) mice, and their respective healthy littermates as control, and Cd63−/− mice with their wild-type littermates. KPC mice were bred with Timp1−/− mice to produce KPCxTimp1−/− mice. TIMP1 was overexpressed and CD63 was knocked down in mice using adenoviral vectors AdTIMP1 or AdshCD63, respectively. Hepatic susceptibility to metastases was determined after intravenous inoculation of syngeneic 9801L pancreas carcinoma cells. Pancreata and liver tissues were collected and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemical, immunoblot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. We analyzed the effects of TIMP1 overexpression or knockdown and CD63 knockdown in transduced human primary HSCs and HSC cell lines. Results Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia, and PDAC tissues from patients expressed higher levels of TIMP1 protein than normal pancreas. The premalignant pancreatic lesions that developed in KPC and CPK mice expressed TIMP1 and secreted it into the circulation. In vitro and in vivo, TIMP1 activated human or mouse HSCs, which required interaction between TIMP1 and CD63 and signaling via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, but not TIMP1 protease inhibitor activity. This signaling pathway induced expression of endogenous TIMP1. TIMP1 knockdown in HSCs reduced their activation. Cultured TIMP1-activated human and mouse HSCs began to express stromal-derived factor-1, which induced neutrophil migration, a marker of the premetastatic niche. Mice with pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia–derived systemic increases in TIMP1 developed more liver metastases after injections of pancreatic cancer cells than mice without increased levels of TIMP1. This increase in formation of liver metastases from injected pancreatic cancer cells was not observed in TIMP1 or CD63 knockout mice. Conclusions Expression of TIMP1 is increased in chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia, and PDAC tissues from patients. TIMP1 signaling via CD63 leads to activation of HSCs, which create an environment in the liver that increases its susceptibility to pancreatic tumor cells. Strategies to block TIMP1 signaling via CD63 might be developed to prevent PDAC metastasis to the liver.</p

Economic lessons, perspectives and challenges from the Balkans

both empirical and theoretical papers on contemporary issues of monetary and economic problem