“Complementary Currency Systems Bridging Communities”

27-29 October 2022,
Sofia, Bulgaria

Organised by

For more than 40 years, an international community of scholars – now united through RAMICS – has been studying practical experiments and generating ideas for complementary and social currencies. Since 2011, their tradition of biennial meetings of different cultures, experiences, and ideas continues.

The 6th Congress in this series will be held in 2022, October 27-29, in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is a place of historical, geographical, and cultural importance as it is a bridge between the East and the West.

We invite all those who are interested in this field of research, and in the fundamental links in the social field, and are looking for new models and ideas on monetary systems to join discussions on “Complementary Currency Systems Bridging Communities”.

Today, more than ever, we face a number of existential problems at all levels – as individuals and as social groups, nationally and globally. We live in a time with high-speed changes affecting nature and societies which is commonly labelled as crises marked by fear. The feeling of insecurity that overwhelms us just shows our limitations in making sense of these changes. But in many respects, change is inevitable, and it is up to us to figure out how we will cope, or better, how to take advantage of these changes.

The accumulated imbalances are global, highlighted by two essential points on which the survival of the modern man directly depends – health and energy. That is why we would like to highlight two special concerns in the congress: COVID and the “Economological” U-Turn*^[1]. These will serve as the background of our debates. And the question here is: Is this “new normality” the price of globalisation?

It is clear that giant dividing lines were created in our socio-political, natural, and ethical worlds and we now need veritable shifts for overcoming this pile of existential challenges. With so many distances to bridge, the leading question of this congress will be:

“How do monetary innovations and complementary currency systems help to build necessary bridges within and between our communities?”

Accordingly, the themes for paper presentations are:

 I.       Dialectics of CCS and/or money

 Suggested key words: Philosophy of money, Theory of money, Monetary diversity, Typology of CCS, Topology of CCS, Social money, Commercial money, Fiscal money, Local money, Private non-bank money, Convertibility of CCS, Reciprocity, Barter, Trust, etc.

 II.     The role of the CCS in the field of sustainable and social finance.

 Suggested key words: Decentralization, Decommodification, (Re-)Distribution, Social cohesion, Community resilience, Green New Deal, Green investment, Community development and Local development, Ethical finance, Social harmony, Social justice, etc.

 III.   CCS as a tool for overcoming crises.

 Suggested key words: Debt crises, Perpetual pandemics, Energy transition, Natural resources, Ecology, Poverty, Inequality, Liquidity, Inflation etc.

 IV.   Digitalization – Can CCS help bridge the distance between the technological and digital divides.

 Suggested key words:4^th industrial revolution, Digital currencies, Crypto currencies etc.

 V.     Monetary ecosystems – Integration of CCS in common monetary order.

 Suggested key words: Regulations, Pluralism, Empowering local authority, Local economy, Financial Institutions, Financial order etc.

 VI.   CCS – Review and renew. Case studies, concepts, experience reports.

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Scientific Committee (in alphabetical order)

 Prof. Ester Barinaga, University of Lund (Sweden);

 Dr. Leander Bindewald, Monneta.org;

 Prof. Jérôme Blanc, Triangle, Sciences Po Lyon (France);

 Prof. Petar Chobanov, University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria);

 Prof. August Corrons Giménez, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Spain);

 Prof. Reneta Dimitrova, New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria);

 Prof. Georgina Gómez, ISS, University of Rotterdam (Netherlands);

 Prof. Yannick Lung, University of Bordeaux (France);

 Prof. Gergana Mihaylova, University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria);

 Prof. Presiana Nenkova, University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria);

 Prof. Nikolay Nenovsky, Director of the MRC;

 Prof. Ricardo Orzi, Universidad Nacional de Luján (Buenos Aires, Argentina);

 Rolf Schroeder, MA, Independent Research (Germany);

 Irene Sotiropoulou, IJCCR;

 Dr. Rositsa Toncheva, University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria);

 Dr. Radostin Vazov, VUZF Lab (Bulgaria);

 Dr. Masayuki Yoshida, Joetsu University of Education (Japan);

Organizing committee:

 Dr. Rositsa Toncheva, (OC Chair) University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria);

 Dr. Diyana Miteva, Director of the IEP

 Dr. Leander Bindewald, Monneta.com

 Dr. Irene Sotiropoulou, IJCCR;

 Dr. Peter Stoyanov, University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria);

 Dr. Tsvetelina Marinova, New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria);

 Ms. Elena Kirilova, MRC (Bulgaria);

 Ms. Vanya Slavova, Bulgarian Academy of Science.

Organizing Secretary: Ms. Elena Kirilova, MRC (Bulgaria)

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Practicalities:

Working languages: English and Bulgarian.

Important Dates and word limits:

• Submitting abstracts by May 28th, 2022 – no more than 500 words.
• Notification of acceptance by June 30th, 2022
• Submission of full papers (3,000-8,000 words) by September 15th, 2022.

Abstracts, presentations and full papers must be submitted through the online submission system, https://ramics-sofia-2022.unwe.bg/en. You have to create a personal account and log in first.

The Scientific Committee is in charge of reviewing all submitted abstracts.

 Congress fee

 1) Normal registration fee for on-site participants:

• From Developed Countries – 240 EUR
• From Developing Countries – 120 EUR**
• PhD Students from Developed Countries – 120 EUR
• PhD Students from Developing countries – 50 EUR **
• Participants from UNWE – No congress fee

   2) Discounted fees for Early-Bird registration (until August 15th) or online participation:

• From Developed Countries – 180 EUR
• From Developing Countries – 90 EUR**
• PhD Students from Developed Countries – 90 EUR
• PhD Students from Developing Countries – 50 EUR**
• Participants from UNWE – No congress fee

  The congress fee covers:

• 1. Participation in the congress and materials.
• 2. Publication of timely submitted papers in conference proceedings (published online).
• 3. Coffee/tea and refreshments for both days.
• 4. Buffet luncheons (Thursday & Friday).

Important Note:

 1) Additionally, all presenters must become members of Research Association on Monetary Innovation and Community and Complementary Currency Systems (RAMICS) by paying the membership fees. (To become a member of RAMICS, click here: https://ramics.org/membership/).

 2) For payment methods of registration fee, please refer to the site https://ramics-sofia-2022.unwe.bg/en.

Official Gala dinner

 The optional gala dinner is on the 28th of October. It costs 55 Euros which are not included in the registration fee.

 Places are limited. Please indicate your wish to participate on the registration form.

Cultural Program

 Cultural Program is on the 29^th of October. For more information, please see here https://ramics2022sofia.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/17

Suggested accommodation

 Information about partner hotels and preferential rates can be found here https://ramics2022sofia.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/8. More detailed information could be requested from the local organisers by email: ramics@unwe.bg.

Contact person: Ms. Elena Kirilova, email ramics@unwe.bg

 * This term “Economological U-turn” is a metaphor here suggested to present the whole complex of regulations affecting the prices and access to existential energy and natural resources, ruining markets societies and economy, which are inadequate to solve the ecological problems but may enhance the disruption of Nature, due to generating poverty. U-turn of the economic logic – to economy with negative growth and zero emissions. It may be a subject of debate during the congress.

** The 39 developed countries are listed as follows according to Advanced Economies of IMF (https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/02/weodata/groups.htm).

 Download Call for Papers [New Updates: 13 May 2022]