What are the motivations and obstacles to the development of a local currency?

In France, more than 80 local citizen currencies are in circulation. In the Lyon area, the gonette was launched in 2015. If its use is quite simple, some obstacles still need to be removed. But the will is there.

In recent weeks, Veolia Water Centre Est and the City of Villeurbanne have joined the gonette for an experimental phase. Although Lyon's local currency has been in existence for six years, its main users until now have been individuals, associations, merchants and small businesses. The arrival of a large group and a local authority is therefore a first. However, the motivations of these two actors are well in line with the philosophy of the network, in particular to keep money in the real and local economy and to create social links.

Payment of salaries and suppliers

"The gonette is a way to support the local economy. While the euro ends up on the financial markets sooner or later, the gonette can neither be put in a bank nor leave the Lyon area", underlines Julien Ravello. The town councillor of Villeurbanne delegated to the short circuits and to the social and united economy highlights another asset. " For each goniette in circulation, there is one euro placed in an ethical bank account, in this case the Nef and the Crédit Coopératif, to finance ethical projects in the area", he explains.

At Veolia Water Centre Est, employees were the first to sign up. After numerous exchanges and the organization of a consultation with the members, the association La Gonette finally accepted the application of Veolia's Lyon subsidiary. "The objectives are threefold: partial payment of salaries in "gonettes" for volunteer employees, the use of network suppliers, in particular for communication and catering services, and work on the possibility of paying one's water bill in "gonettes"", explains Guillaume Arama, Marketing Director of Veolia Eau Centre Est, who points out that membership remains subject to the agreement of the Social and Economic Committee.

Tests to study the technical feasibility

In practice, the use of the gondola raises a few questions and requires adaptations. "Our membership marks a first act of support, but we need to work to go further. At the beginning of 2022, we would like to be able to compensate the elected volunteers in gonfettes. We are also studying the possibility of accepting payment in gonettes for certain public services, such as the swimming pool or the library. It is more complicated because we have to evaluate the possible burden on the services and obtain the acceptance of the public treasurer", explains Julien Ravello.

The obstacles to be overcome are almost identical for Veolia Water Centre Est. "We will have to test an IT and accounting system and the opening of an account to collect and disburse funds. And we will have to convince the company's internal control", says Guillaume Arama. A campaign promise on the one hand, and a conviction on the part of employees on the other, the gonette is arousing more and more interest. The City and the Metropolis of Lyon should also follow suit....