Community Currency - an Innovation for Integration and Inclusion

Purpose and goal:

The project has investigated if local currency can be used for labour integration. The goal has been achieved by developing a local currency adapted to Swedish conditions that can be scaled up. The model is based on a simple monetary/financial logic which meant that women who acted as service hosts at the Mobilia shopping center received digital payment cards for personal consumption, which enabled employment and networking and that the project was able to connect actors.

The model is easy to spread and organize because it is based on existing infrastructure and practices. Expected results and effects:

The result shows that an innovative part of a local currency is that it is an incentive for target group and stakeholders to participate in efforts for increased integration. 73% of the women who participated have gone on to employment or studies which is very good in comparison to other labor market efforts. At the same time, the project shows that the legal limit for financial compensation of volunteers in Sweden is low, that local currency is a gray area in the tax system and the need for solutions that prevent civil society from becoming responsible for social security contributions etc.

Approach and implementation:

The process has made visible how a model for local currency can be created based on tax law restrictions. The original currency model that the stores would pay part of their rent in the local currency has not been realized. This has resulted in an alternative solution where the women are instead paid through Mobilia´s internal digital payment card system.

The process shows that the stores appreciated the women as customer hosts, that the women´s "presence" created a safe work environment but also attracted new customer groups by demonstrating Mobilia´s social responsibility.