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i think you may be overselling it a bit. the government didn't invent all these new payment methods. they're the ones who still mint and print currency. when

i think you may be overselling it a bit. the government didn't invent all these new payment methods. they're the ones who still mint and print currency. when they stop doing that, i'll start worrying. also, to date i have not been unable to spend cash anywhere or with anyone, that i can remember. this includes traveling to asia and europe and south america. in fact the global trend is that most people still prefer to be paid in cash. i know i sure do. when people ask me if i take venmo or paypal i just roll my eyes. it almost seems the more electronic methods pop up, the scarcer cash gets, the more cash is in demand. hmmm. didn't they teach us something about that in econ 1a...

eropple 11y ago
> didn't they teach us something about that in econ 1a... Cash is desired by some businesses because of lower transactional costs, though, not due to scarcity. It's a superior good (along some axes and for some people) and is valued as such.
- beachstartup 11y ago
  strictly defined, electronic payments and cash payments of the same denomination are the same currency, since they are nominally equivalent, but i'm going to posit that they're diverging and will functionally become two different currencies as the proliferation of electronic payments and easy/cheap credit continues. i think when a good or service can be sold for different prices ("cash discount"), it's going in that direction.
DominikR 11y ago
Of course the government didn't invent these payment methods, businessmen like you and I did. I'm not against cashless payment, I'm using these services myself. I'm against the government having too much power and regulating every detail of life.
- beachstartup 11y ago
  yes but it seems like in this case government is the only one providing the free alternative! an exclusivity provided by design of a sovereign state obviously, but ironic nonetheless. that's why i say when it stops, i'll worry.

eropple 11y ago

> didn't they teach us something about that in econ 1a... Cash is desired by some businesses because of lower transactional costs, though, not due to scarcity. It's a superior good (along some axes and for some people) and is valued as such.

beachstartup 11y ago
strictly defined, electronic payments and cash payments of the same denomination are the same currency, since they are nominally equivalent, but i'm going to posit that they're diverging and will functionally become two different currencies as the proliferation of electronic payments and easy/cheap credit continues. i think when a good or service can be sold for different prices ("cash discount"), it's going in that direction.

DominikR 11y ago

Of course the government didn't invent these payment methods, businessmen like you and I did. I'm not against cashless payment, I'm using these services myself. I'm against the government having too much power and regulating every detail of life.

beachstartup 11y ago
yes but it seems like in this case government is the only one providing the free alternative! an exclusivity provided by design of a sovereign state obviously, but ironic nonetheless. that's why i say when it stops, i'll worry.