The Solhilarity Barter Alternative in the Economy

Abstract

Written by a member of Fundación Buena Idea, this article reflects on alternatives to the globalized capitalist monetary system, proposing the neologism "Solhilarity" to link the concepts of solidarity and solar energy as the basis for a more sustainable economy. The author questions the role of institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO in imposing economic policies on developing countries, citing analysis by economist Joseph Stiglitz on countries that departed from IMF recommendations during the Asian financial crisis with favorable results. The text draws extensively on economist Bernard Lietaer's ideas on alternative monetary systems, presenting historical examples of local currencies with built-in depreciation rates that would have encouraged long-term productive investment, concluding with barter as a human-scale economic alternative.