DS9 and Money

[Sonic Glitch]

I have a simple question. How does a human like Cassidy Yates buy her own ship? Following that theory, she would have to work her entire life for non-humans to make enough to buy that ship OR she could simply ask "Earth" for one, and it would be provided cost free. In which case everyone who wanted their own ship would have one, and there would be no off planet human labor force.

Perhaps it's merely starfleet that doesn't have money? (yes, I'm reaching here) instead they have some sort of credit based on the standard federation unit that can then be converted into the local currency?

The second part of that statement contradicts the first part. Credit, just like paper money, is based on promissory value. Credit is a function of a money-based economy, just like currency.

Well, my argument was that officers working for starfleet, at least those that we see do not normally need any actual money because of.. whatever the quasi-communist economic plan they have (i.e. they get first pick of the resources available or something like that) BUT the Federation at large does have money, and Starfleet is intelligent enough (ha) to realize that other empires would use legal tender and would set aside some sort of stipend/credit fund for its officers for use when they come into contact with a civilization using money or a civilian. I.E. A starfleet officer working on a starship or otherwise employed by the Federation would not need money but if he retired or wanted to go place a few bets on the Dabo wheel he would.

(yes it's a stretch, but what isn't when talking about the Fed economy)

[Mikey]

I sse what you're saying, but we go back to Crusher buying personal luxury items - not something for professional use or even mission-related. If she used such a "slush funD" as you mention for that purpose, that's basically the same thing as getting paid - receiving money to do with as you please, by dint of your position.

[Sonic Glitch]

I sse what you're saying, but we go back to Crusher buying personal luxury items - not something for professional use or even mission-related. If she used such a "slush funD" as you mention for that purpose, that's basically the same thing as getting paid - receiving money to do with as you please, by dint of your position.

Which, I suppose, goes back to the nature of trying to figure out the Federation economy...

[Mark]

Again, I feel that they MUST have money. My personal guess is they don't have a hard currency like the Ferengi, but a "credit" system (which would jibe with Crushers statement). Said "credit" system works well within the Federation where everyone is willing to accept "credits" as the standard form of commerce, but when dealing with outside species (ie the Ferengi), you must have hard currency because the Federation "Credit" would be utterly useless without anything to back it up. That would allow for "moneychangers" to flourish, and would also explain how services and cash could be rendered between the Fed and her neighbors.

[Sionnach Glic]

By "no currency" they could just mean "no physical currency". They may still use an electronic form of transactions, where everything is bought via credit card.

[Reliant121]

I can see Trek working on a virtual banking system, sorta like a "neural net".

[Mikey]

By "no currency" they could just mean "no physical currency". They may still use an electronic form of transactions, where everything is bought via credit card.

Makes sense. Unfortunately, Picard's statements said no "money" specifically. Credit - depending on your POV - either is money or is predicated on it.

[Mikey]

I can see Trek working on a virtual banking system, sorta like a "neural net".

AR banking? Cool, but it's just a way to manage money - so money must exist to use such a thing.

[Captain Seafort]

Makes sense. Unfortunately, Picard's statements said no "money" specifically. Credit - depending on your POV - either is money or is predicated on it.

I think it would, however, handily explain Kirk's comment in STIV about 1986 "still using money" despite the clear evidence of a real economy still existing at the time - he wasn't used to the physical form. TNG's far clearer about the fact that not only physical money but the very concept is gone.

[Mikey]

Certainly does help explain that case. In the case of no money in TNG and then its ready availability in DS9, not so much.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Maybe... Picard was just BSing Offenhouse and trying to deflate his ego a bit? *Shrugs*

[Sionnach Glic]

By "no currency" they could just mean "no physical currency". They may still use an electronic form of transactions, where everything is bought via credit card.

Makes sense. Unfortunately, Picard's statements said no "money" specifically. Credit - depending on your POV - either is money or is predicated on it.

It's possible he just meant "money as you'd know it". If there really was a big shift if the way transactions were done, then it the quote could still work.

[Mikey]

Possible, but it seems very strongly that the implication - in both the cryo-satellite ep and in FC - that Picard's implication was that "we don't have money or a commerce system anymore, you primitive savages."

[Sionnach Glic]

Aye, that one was pretty clear. Hence our problem.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

I'm still not sure Picard wasn't simply trying to take the piss out of Offenhouse.