15th April - Andrew Waldie - Are We Going Through A Monetary Reset?

Are we, as some financial commentators argue, going through a "monetary re-set"? That is, a fundamental re-structuring of the way that the world organises its money, debt, and currency relationships, which goes far beyond normal inflation or routine policy tweaks. In this talk, our treasurer, Andrew Waldie will examine this question by reviewing recent developments in financial markets - including the rapid rise and extreme volatility in the prices of precious metals; the weakening of the position of the US Dollar as the global reserve currency and the development of alternative global payment systems; the sharp fall in the price of Bitcoin and the growth of "stablecoins". Andrew will also consider the feasibility of local currencies as a way of sheltering communities from the impact of any "monetary reset".