Local and complementary currencies, a means to foster local economy: The case of France

Abstract

1 Abstract Since 2010 in France, local and complementary currencies have grown signif- icantly, bringing the total number in circulation to 82. Most of the studies focus on the way local and complementary currencies work and their potential benefits. With the benefit of ten years of hindsight, it is time to supplement the studies with a quantitative analysis of the phenomenon and measure its impact on the local economy. A survey dealing with all the issues involved in developing a currency completes the quantitative analysis. Nevertheless, the thesis faces difficulties in collecting this data. Hence, the thesis identifies the lack of suitable tools for regular monitoring as the main reason for the data collection issue. Despite the low response rate, the collected responses provide evidence to confirm the intuition that local and complementary currencies are dependent on their framework. Indeed, based on a few responses and spe- cific cases, the thesis distinguishes critical framework-dependent elements that impact the sustainability of a local and complementary currency. Hence, the thesis emphasizes the critical role of the local consumption habits, elected rep- resentatives, relations with public bodies, and people's attachment to the local territory. Furthermore, the thesis underlies the need to sustain...