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Inspiration, v. 4, issue 1, April 1946
Page 35
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INSPIRATION 35 This would be quite a job, for on Mars the unit of exchange might be based upon the value of rare zyntallix crystals. On Thorania II zyntallix crystals are so common they are used in paving streets, and the unit of exchange is based upon the average production of an average Thoranian IInd in a period of one taken. However, a Martian can do 3 times as much work as an inhabitant of Thorania II; and to further complicate things, labor saving devices from other worlds are increasing production so much that the Thoranian IInds are all becoming millionaires. Eventually all such difficulties are ironed out, and the relative values of the monetary unit of each culture is known. Next step would almost have to be the assigning of an arbitrary universal exchange unit, something like the "credit" unit mentioned in so many s-f stories, probably at the median point in the scale. The terrestial system of simple exchange directly between the nations involved wouldn't work out so well on an interplanetary, or larger scale. Even here, in fairly complicated deals, all exchanges are generally made with reference to the units of some nation which is economically stable. That currency at present is usually the U. S. dollar, for want of anything with more stability. But in our universal scale, an arbitrary unit not based upon the unit of any particular civilization would seem best -- since practically all nations on earth use a modified gold standard system, and our universal systems would be based upon a myriad of standards. Finally, it is probable that most cultures, especially if they engaged in much trade with other cultures, would simplify things still more by adopting the international, interplanetary, etc. standard for internal as well as external use, thus making the same money good anyplace in the universe. Such a system might even work on earth at present, should some truly international credit standard be adopted not based on any one country. As it is now, national pride generally keeps each nation to using its own system of exchange, often with catastrophic results. [Photo of two men in military uniforms one of which has Sergeant's stripes on his shoulder.] PARIS IN THE SPRING May, 1945. That's Milty on the left, me on the right. Background is one of the bridges across the Seine, which one I can't remember. Perhaps Parisian Milty would know. Object under Milty's arm is a FAPA mailing. Yes, it was a science-fiction convention, the Pariscon of 1945.
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INSPIRATION 35 This would be quite a job, for on Mars the unit of exchange might be based upon the value of rare zyntallix crystals. On Thorania II zyntallix crystals are so common they are used in paving streets, and the unit of exchange is based upon the average production of an average Thoranian IInd in a period of one taken. However, a Martian can do 3 times as much work as an inhabitant of Thorania II; and to further complicate things, labor saving devices from other worlds are increasing production so much that the Thoranian IInds are all becoming millionaires. Eventually all such difficulties are ironed out, and the relative values of the monetary unit of each culture is known. Next step would almost have to be the assigning of an arbitrary universal exchange unit, something like the "credit" unit mentioned in so many s-f stories, probably at the median point in the scale. The terrestial system of simple exchange directly between the nations involved wouldn't work out so well on an interplanetary, or larger scale. Even here, in fairly complicated deals, all exchanges are generally made with reference to the units of some nation which is economically stable. That currency at present is usually the U. S. dollar, for want of anything with more stability. But in our universal scale, an arbitrary unit not based upon the unit of any particular civilization would seem best -- since practically all nations on earth use a modified gold standard system, and our universal systems would be based upon a myriad of standards. Finally, it is probable that most cultures, especially if they engaged in much trade with other cultures, would simplify things still more by adopting the international, interplanetary, etc. standard for internal as well as external use, thus making the same money good anyplace in the universe. Such a system might even work on earth at present, should some truly international credit standard be adopted not based on any one country. As it is now, national pride generally keeps each nation to using its own system of exchange, often with catastrophic results. [Photo of two men in military uniforms one of which has Sergeant's stripes on his shoulder.] PARIS IN THE SPRING May, 1945. That's Milty on the left, me on the right. Background is one of the bridges across the Seine, which one I can't remember. Perhaps Parisian Milty would know. Object under Milty's arm is a FAPA mailing. Yes, it was a science-fiction convention, the Pariscon of 1945.
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