| From: | Todd Montgomery <tmont@****.WVU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Money and All that Jazz $$$$$ |
| Date: | Fri, 4 Jun 1993 12:27:07 -0400 |
While I have been much busier than expected, I have managed to write
up something of interest to everyone.
One of my players, Hello Gabriel, has always argued with me about how
prominent paper currency should be. So after much prodding, I have
produced the stuff below. It tries to describe how electronic and
paper monies are handled and provides an opinion of how a true future
global economy might function. As a disclaimer, I really HATE
economics.
This also provides some ideas for alternatives to regular payment of
runs. Try corporate script.
Please let me know what you think.
-- Quiktek
a.k.a. Todd Montgomery
tmont@****.wvu.edu
tmont@***.wvu.edu
un032507@*******.wvnet.edu
Money (Paper, Electronic, and Plastic) for SRII.
Grant-Hengaar-Yangachi Treaty (NuYen Treaty) of 2035
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Following the Crash of '29 and the cleanup that followed up until
2031, most individuals were leary about trusting electronic funds. The
use of telecommunications to eleviate the huge task of distributing,
maintaining, and securing paper funds was seen as too risky and too
unstable to succeed on a national, not to mention, international
scale. But through the endeavors of a trilateral team composed of
representatives from Japan, UCAS, and Germany, a solution was found.
This team, commonly referred to as the Trilateral Fund Organizational
Committee (TFOC), set up the basic engine by which funds are handled
electronically. This system was built to ensure security as well as
stability for electronic funds. As part of this system the steady
elimination of paper funds would be a second priority. Currently every
country on the globe, with the exception of a handful of Third World
countries honor this treaty and adhere to its mandates. And the TFOC
now contains one representative from each country that has agreed to
adhere to the treaties mandates.
Electronic Funds:
Starting in 2036, electronic funds were available for worldwide
distribution. This distribution method has taken on various forms
since. Among them has been the credplate and the credstick. Any of
these methods can be used for the same purpose (Identification and
Electronic Funding). To coincide with this new "form" of money, a
standard totally divorced from national trading was established. The
NuYen. This form of funds which is now the set standard for
international trading was to be set for electronic use ONLY. But after
negotiations with several governments and corporations, an agreement
was announced to allow governments and corporations to print there own
NuYen script. Although several restrictions apply. See Scripts below.
All over forms of currency/funds, Dollar, Yen, Pound Sterling, etc.,
are eligible for implementation as electronic funds. But it is the
individual governments responsibility to monitor the distribution of
these funds. The responsibility to monitor NuYen lies in the TFOC and
therefore eventually falls to the responsibility of all the countries
involved.
NuYen Database
This TFOC computer system monitors the distribution of NuYen to
governments. The exchange rate is determined by a complex set of
equations that define the world markets and the nation involved. The
individual country then distributes NuYen through there own systems,
in UCAS the Fed. Government or corporate holdings, Gold, etc., may be
used to enhance the distribution to a country. But this produces
higher overall distribution as the holdings are transferred into NuYen
for use by all the countries on the TFOC. Needless to say this is not
done very much.
>>>>>[ Hmmm... One could make minor power plays by playing with some
of the things that are variables in these equations. Not enough to
cause much more than a dip in the economic register, but a dip at the
right time could lead to interesting developments. ]<<<<<
--Crossfire<17:58:34/05-25-54>
>>>>[ It has been tried in the past. That is why the system is so
heavily guarded that it makes Tir Taingire systems look like playland.
By the Treaty, any tampering with this delicate little
system/equations/ etc. results in a diminished amount of distribution
of funds to the countries. This severely upsets the international
trade configuration, bringing the world to its knees. Needless to say
no one wants that, so the system is pretty much the ultimate in
secure. The only way that the equations can be manipulated without
tampering with the system is by tampering with the governmental trade
reports that are sent to it. But this has safeguards as well. But these
are all country specific. ]<<<<
--Quiktek<18:43:30/05-25-54>
Corporate Funds
Corporations have the ability to transfer some of their holdings
directly into electronic media depending on the value of international
stock determined by the Japanese Stock Market Nikkei Index. This form
of funds is elligible under the NuYen Treaty to be treated as
international currency. And this form is widely used by corporations
for employee payment, international transfer, etc. Corporations who
are elligible to perform this exchange hold a prefunctory seat on the
TFOC. They have no real power, but may use the NuYen Database to
acquire NuYen directly from the TFOC. This in effect allows the
corporation to directly exchange their funds for NuYen without going
through any government.
Scripts
Under the NuYen Treaty, all forms of non-electronic funds are termed
"Scripts". Individual countries determine how much of there holdings
they well transform into Script. Countries may mint their own currency
as Script or they may mint country specific NuYen Script. Country
currency is determined by the exchange rate determined by the TFOC
NuYen Database. Where as NuYen Script is a set international standard.
Different countries handle this in different ways. Japan produces NO
Script, UCAS Produces about 0.05% Script from its holdings, and
England produces over 2.5% Script from its holdings.
Corporate Script
Corporations may produce there own Script. This is handled just as
electronic media for purposes of holdings, but it is minted just as
countries mint their own currency Script. Corporations may not mint
NuYen Script.
Exchange Rates
Exchange rates are exactly the same for Script as for electronic
funds. And in addition countries/corporations may charge additional
rates for handling exchanges.
Counterfeiting
It is the individual countries responsibility to develop effective
anti-counterfeit methods for both its own Script and NuYen Script.
Corporations because of their inclusion into the TFOC are also
required to develop their own methods.
>>>>[
Quiktek's Notes:
Well if you aren't confused, your better than most. Everything is
pretty much country/corp. specific. In the UCAS, for example,
transactions are legally void if they involve amounts over $100 or 20Y
(Standard rate of exchange of $5 to 1Y). Establishments are not
legally responsible for carrying Script. And only Medium sized or
larger banks can exchange Script for electronic funds. The exchange
handling costs are handled by individual establishment. The current
average is 10% for electronic to Script and 5% to Script to
electronic. Percentage is of amount to be exchanged. And UCAS
Script, NuYen and Dollars are bar coded for tracking purposes to
hopefully eliminate counterfeiting. All establishments that handle
Script are required by law to provide scanners and place information
in the Fed database. All this means that only the shadows and high
income areas (It's currently in Vogue to pay for small necessities
with UCAS Script, and no change is expected) handle much Script. In
the shadows, Script needs to be laundried. That darn bar code leaves
a large trail unless the money is dispensed carefully by the shadow
organization. Large amounts of Script draw the IRS like flies. So in
the shadows Script is used sparingly unless a source to launder it is
readily accessible. Usually it is easier to launder electronic funds
than it is to do Script. And Corporate Script is handled about the
same except Corporate Script has an additional 5% tacked to the
exchange handling rate. Yes up to 15% for electronic to Corp. Script
and 10% the other way around. This amount goes directly to the corp.
Corp employees don't have to pay this amount within corp. grounds or
with corp. affiliates. The UCAS government would like to quit
producing Script, but all attempts have failed. Currently only 0.025%
of the UCAS holdings are related to NuYen Script. With an additional
0.025% dedicated to Dollar Script ( Both coin and paper).
Japan produces 0% Script. And England produces over 2.5% Script. The
Britts like there Pound Sterling. Tradition. Most of the nations in
North America produce between 0.2% to 2.0% Script. It is all
dependent on the nation. Most Asian countries produce very little
Script (0.002% to 0.02%). European countries fluctuate madly (0.2% to
1.5%).
It is much easier to stick with the old credstick or credplate than to
see the 16 yr. old kids face at Stuffer Shack when you ask for change
for a 20.]<<<<
--Quiktek<03:06:16/05-25-54>
Gaming Note: Exchange Rates for countries, i.e. NuYen to Dollars,
etc., should be handled like in the various sourcebooks. Exchange
Rates for Corporate currencies should be handled by making an exchange
rate of around 5 Corporate Script per 1 NuYen. Then use a random roll
to determine the exact rate. Example: 5 Fuchi = 1 NuYen, 2D6 comes up
8, subtract 7 to make the roll have an equal probability of + and -,
1, Add 1% of 5 to 5, 5.05 Fuchi equal 1 NuYen. This rate can change as
often, every ten minutes, or as infrequent, every month, as you wish.
Try paying your players in Ares Script and see what they do. This is a
way for a Mr. J to get rid of some high rate Script that he knows is
about to dwindle big, and make the set exchange rate vary between
corps.
