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Por que razão África deve ficar sem numerário

May 12, 2017 Carl Manlan

YAMOUSSOUKRO — Ultimamente a Índia tem prosseguido um objectivo ambicioso: uma economia sem numerário. Apesar dos erros e das frustrações iniciais, esta solução constituirá uma mudança para melhor para os 1,31 mil milhões de habitantes do país. África deve estabelecer um objectivo semelhante — e dar o primeiro passo através da instituição de uma união monetária.

Naturalmente, alcançar uma sociedade sem numerário não constitui um fim em si. Pelo contrário, é um meio de ajudar a promover a inclusão financeira, a segurança e a prosperidade.

Actualmente, estima-se que 326 milhões de africanos — 80% da população adulta do continente — não utilizam serviços financeiros formais ou informais. No entanto, esconder o dinheiro colchão não é uma forma de salvaguardar as poupanças das famílias, nem, muito menos, permite que as famílias acumulem capital suficiente para fugir da pobreza crónica.

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0 Comments on this paragraph, 8 Comments on this article

Barry McHugh May 26, 2017

Given UNCTAD's report last year showing up to 75% underinvoicing from five key African commodity exporting countries, your recommendation would be a huge success. Given the aid $ the UN provides to African countries only for the underinvoicing to make that a jaundiced effort, the UN could help pay for going cashless and they'd end up ahead in the overall exercise.
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Mauricio Duran-Loriga May 20, 2017

Ultra corrupt Africa going cashless?

Not even genius Charlie Chaplin spoofed about that !
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Louis Stouch May 14, 2017

Many African countries are totally dysfunctional with no visible signs of government administration outside of the major cities. The idea of transitioning to a cashless society in an environment of lawlessness and chaos is, quite frankly, preposterous.

AS for -The goal should be to achieve prosperity through financial inclusion linked to economic activity - fine words, no basis in reality. Developing a cashless society will not magically make everyone prosperous.
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Iain Henderson May 14, 2017

The use of the word "force" says it all about the idea of cashless society. Force people into anything is never good escpecially when governments are involved. The moral hazard that will be created if people are unable to get their money out of the way of cash grabing governments in time of crises is abvious.
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Steve Hurst May 13, 2017

The objective of a cashless society is control. It is interesting that the author uses the word 'force'.

The author should look at events in S Africa. When there was a shortage of black labour for the diamond mines the big idea was to 'force' rural tribespeople who lived in a cashless barter society to pay a tax annually. To earn the tax they then had to work in the diamond mines. This was an outcome of control forcing a transaction mode change.

I cannot see any reason why something such as cash which has stood the test of time should be thrown away as a system because it suits somebody in a suit for unproven benefits particularly when the word 'force' is used. It is an appalling arrogance. The only party this is certain to create wealth for is banks who will then skim every, but every, transaction; probably at both ends
- Mauricio Duran-Loriga May 20, 2017
  
  SH,
  
  I absolutely agree. Cash as a means of payment was enabled by trust, not by force. When force is used upon whatever means of payment, society organizes itself as much as possible away from the official landscape.
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Omololuoye Majekodunmi May 12, 2017

Please what manner of monetary union? like Europe has shown us following the last financial crisis, monetary union can be plagued with ills cos in the eventuality of a financial crisis, a common currency can act as a gold standard which would impede proper fiscal and monetary actions.
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Steve Hurst May 12, 2017

'Moving toward a cashless society would force citizens... into the financial sector'. A good reason not to do it
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