New Money

The Evolution of Finance

Jordan MacLeod interviewed by Psychiatrist Dr Nicholas Beecroft. Jordan is a writer and consultant on the New Economy. He is author of New Currency: How Money Changes the World as We Know It and Founder and Partner of Cornerstone Global Associates, a Strategy Consulting firm based in London. Later this month he is leading cornerstone’s launch of a New Economics Unit focused on re-visioning and retooling global capitalism. Jordan is also founder and CEO of a startup software company, Strue. 

In this interview, Jordan puts the current economic crisis in the much bigger context of the evolution of money and financial systems throughout human history. He says,”Our economy indeed has the potential to transform into our vehicle, our shuttle, for reaching collective prosperity and increasing global integration.” He traces the development of money from the tribal age of barter through to the present digital age where money has been dematerialized. Jordan doesn’t claim to have a single blueprint for the future rather he has been scanning the horizon to see the evidence of our cultural evolution in action. He gives numerous examples of experimentation with new forms of currency and economic system. He gives particular focus to experiments with a method called demurrage which he believes could eliminate our compulsion for exponential growth and shift our focus towards a more co-creative and integrated society. 

Jordan doesn’t believe that money or capitalism are intrinsically bad, but rather our challenge is to revalue and reorganize the way we define money in a way which reflects our current and emerging values. He envisions what a more self organizing living system model of finance would look like and discusses the transition from the current system which would inevitably challenge existing power structures and vested interests. 

It could well be that the current global dominance of the US dollar may give way to a geopolitical shift to a Chinese-based currency or indeed a basket of multipolar currencies. Jordan thinks that it is more likely that there will be some kind of bottom-up evolution of a new global currency which will better reflect the distribution of power more broadly around the globe. He believes that this evolution of a more adaptive financial system is going to be a prime driver of our future security and way of life. He believes that the welfare system is based on entitlement in some Western countries are likely to collapse under their own weight and be replaced with something more empowering and sustainable. 

Dr Nicholas Beecroft, a Military and Organizational Psychiatrist, has spent 25 years exploring the worlds of Medicine, Psychiatry, Business, International Relations and the Military. In the Future of Western Civilization Series, he interviews visionary leaders to discover their inspiring, positive and practical visions for the future and challenges them with incisive questions.

Future of Western Civilization Series 1, Book 1 
Introduction to the Series-Dr Nicholas Beecroft interviewed by Melanie Mortiboys 
British Patriotism-A Newcomer’s Perspective-William Nkata Masembe 
The Next Big Shift-From Machine to Living System-Dr Nicholas Beecroft 
Global Simultaneous Policy Making-Bottom-Up Global Policy-John Bunzl 
The Future of Capitalism-Getting What We Really Want-Jon Freeman 
Transpartisan Politics-The Power of Integrating Diversity-Joseph McCormick 
Creating Heaven on Earth-Taking Small Steps in the Right Direction-Martin Rutte 
Bonds, Fields and Intentions-Culture Catches Up with Science-Lynne McTaggart 
Leadership with Integrity-How to be True to Yourself-Dr Mary Gentile 
Wisdom-Lost and Rediscovered-Professor Jim Garrison 
The Living Universe-Bringing Science, Finance and Society to Life-Dr Elisabet Sahtouris 
Organizational Democracy-10 Steps to Democratic Culture and Leadership-Traci Fenton

Future of Western Civilization Series 1, Book 2 
The West is Best-Insights from the PR Man to the Stars-Howard Bloom 
Evolutionary Enlightenment-Living from your Creative Impulse-Andrew Cohen 
Renaissance 2-Catalyzing the Second Renaissance-Dr Robin Wood 
Positive Patriotism-The Evolving British-Chris Parish 
The Master Code-The Theory that Explains Everything-Dr Don Beck

Future of Western Civilization Series 1, Book 3 
Generational Cycles-Predicting the Future-Neil Howe 
Catalyzing Change-Engaging Emergence-Peggy Holman 
Successful Nations-Harnessing the Aspirations of the People-Richard Barrett 
Resurrecting Christianity-Rising to the Challenges of a Complex World-Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali 
German Identity & Patriotism-Healing the Wounds, Integrating the Shadow-Adrian Wagner 
Compassionate Healthcare-Re-humanising Medicine-Dr Robin Youngson 
New Money-The Evolution of Finance-Jordan MacLeod

Future of Western Civilization Series 1, Book 4 
Unleashing Human Potential-Alignment, Energetics and Connection-Soleira Green 
Wise Democracy-Discovering Solutions to Intractable Problems-Jim Rough 
Mindfulness-Applications for Leaders and Clinicians-Dr Nicholas Beecroft 
Evolutionary Leadership-Conscious Leadership in an Age of Transition-Peter Merry 
The Future of Europe-A View from Inside the European Union-Helen Titchen Beeth 
Ending the Culture War-A Devoted Conservative and a Die-hard Liberal Make Friends-Phil Neisser & Jacob Hess 
The Future of Western Civilization Progress Report-Dr Nicholas Beecroft interviewed by Melanie Mortiboys