In this issue we consider the question of whether banking as we know it has become out-moded, and that the crisis is really not knowing what should take the place of banking? We treat the topic by way of a medley of commentaries, mainly from people who are close to and professionally involved in the institutions they are critiquing. Roger Bootle points out the difference between creative and distributive activities, locating banking in the latter. Simon Johnson's postscript highlights the need to be careful when using terms such as casino finance. Sign of our Time touches on the fragility of banking in the matter of off-balance sheet accounting. By way of a practical and positive response to these concerns, Chris Cook argues the case for Peer to Peer Financing. Christopher Houghton Budd's piece draws attention to the subtler yet central problems today's situation highlights concerning narrow and broad money, surrogates in effect for the real and financial economy and therefore representative of the all-important relationship between the two. Friends' Page and AE hero have now been combined under News and Views as a forum for proponents of associative economics to conduct forthright and rigorous public debate. Accounting Corner reiterates the question of the future of banking by a precise consideration on whether spreadsheet accounting by individuals, groups and organisations does not point the way forwards.

2) The Colours of Money Seminar (UK &US)

UK: 5-7 February 2010
In Stroud UK, see here for details

The next Colours of Money seminar will be taking place in Stroud from February 5-7 2010. It begins with a public lecture  (Beyond the Market) on the Friday evening. 

Comments on the Colours of Money Seminar from April 2009:

• Thank you all for a brain-wrangling but illuminating Colours of Money weekend … there's definitely a light switched on!
• I really enjoyed the workshop and found some of the ideas very Stimulating … many thanks for a thought-provoking and actually quite hope-making two days.
• Thank you both for a really stimulating and engaging seminar. It has struck many a chord and has given me a shot of enthusiasm for going deeper into the ae perspective. … this is (for now) a brief note to express my thanks and to give you both 'credit' for the great work.

For The Colours of Money Seminar - USA , Mar 2010 in Washington DC area - Please take contact if interested

3) Finance and Education Seminar - London

14 February / 14 March Towards an Independent Youth College

Details here:

http://www.anthromedia.com/index.php?id=7389

On-going research concerning finance and education, with particular reference to the Waldorf movement and Rudolf Steiner’s insights. Education is facing growing pressures, the essence of which is to undermine a free spiritual life. Many ofthe pressures are financial in guise, but also rely on an inadequate understanding of law and equity. In this project the case of Waldorf (Steiner) education is explored, both as a case in point and for the contribution it might make to the wider debate.