Argentina running out of coins

[Wezil]

It's Bush's fault.

If you hoard coins the terrorists win.

[Dinner]

Serious question. Why does Argentina always find a way to screw things up? It always seems to be on the verge of becoming a 1st world country only to suddenly self destruct. WTF?

I mean they've been doing this for the last century. "Everything is going well and soon we will.... HEY! What does this shiny red button do?" [ship explodes]

[Sandman]

Argentina wasn't just on the verge, it was a first world country. A hundred years ago its economy was equal to France.

The problem could be the resource trap, combined with populist/nationalist misgovernment.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Wezil
It's Bush's fault.

If you hoard coins the terrorists win.

Well, even if the government is right and there would be enough coins if people didn't horde them the solution is still clear. Make butt loads of more coins. Make so many coins that people realize they're behaving irrationally and stop hording coins. Stop printing bills (or cut back on printing) to off set the coin production but get enough coins out there so that commerce runs smoothly.

[Sandman]

If the bus companies are hoarding change, as the article suggests, it will be difficult to produce enough to match their ability to pull coins out the system.

I'd clamp down on the bus companies. I'd suggest enforcing a flatter fare structure that's less change-hungry, as well as raiding their premises to collect coin stockpiles. It sounds like the Argentinian government's writ doesn't extent very far, though.

Maybe even encourage car-sharing, pedestrians and bicycles.

[onodera]

They should force the bus companies to deposit the coins into their bank accounts.

[DanS]

The government should encourage a move to stored value cards as payment for bus fares.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Sandman
If I was in a coin-shortage situation, I'd probably carry around a box of chocolate bars to smooth out transactions. Maybe a bag of chocolate buttons for small stuff. Or indeed, chocolate coins...

You must have been reading my mind. There have to be all sorts of things which are worth ~1 argie peso which are readily available and easy to carry around.

I think the article exaggerates a little bit...

[KrazyHorse]

The other thing the government could do (if the bus companies really are trying to corner the market on certain denominations of legal tender....Jesus, it sounds weird to even say that) is to announce that old issues of coins will lose some of their value over time...

[Cort Haus]

The buses need Oyster Cards

[Kuciwalker]

(if the bus companies really are trying to corner the market on certain denominations of legal tender....Jesus, it sounds weird to even say that)

yes

[SlowwHand]

I asked an Argentian at work about this, but it was news to him. He just shook his head and said, "****ing Argentina".

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
The buses need Oyster Cards

Did somebody mention the Oyster Card?