I can imagine some interesting hooks and capers tied to this banking system. I like the premise quite a bit. I do think, much like current IRL banking, that transactions that exceed local balance would almost always be met with failure until the balance is updated, such that it takes quite a special degree of "value to the bank" to extend credit.
I think the float implications are also interesting...intentional delays on transfers that allow the banking agency (or others) to leverage cash that really isn't theirs by keeping it on their books for a few extra [time units]. I can imagine a clever scenario or two that relies on this as part of industrial espionage or attack...which I suppose might only be interesting to a handful of players like me.
I have only a layman's knowledge of economics or banking, so I'm still trying to get a handle on the full implications of what I'm imagining. That said, you're absolutely right to note the caper possibilities, which is part of why I arranged things as I did. I like worldbuilding to encourage fun scenarios or campaigns.
Interesting...in every sf roleplaying game I've ever played in, this is one of those hand-waved things. You're paid X,000 credits and it's like a bank account on Earth. I think it's one of those things where people just don't find worrying about this to be fun-enhancing. Or perhaps they've never thought about the possibilities to bring it into play.
Hawala could be a relevant model. It's a network system of money transfer in use in many Middle Eastern and sub-continental countries. It originated in the 14th century in India. Since it worked in a time before there was near-instantaneous transmission of information on Earth, perhaps it could work in a future time where there is no neat-instantaneous transmission of information on a galactic scale.
I suspect there may be other medieval methods of managing money that could be reimplemented in the far future...it's really the same problems.
I can imagine some interesting hooks and capers tied to this banking system. I like the premise quite a bit. I do think, much like current IRL banking, that transactions that exceed local balance would almost always be met with failure until the balance is updated, such that it takes quite a special degree of "value to the bank" to extend credit.
ReplyDeleteI think the float implications are also interesting...intentional delays on transfers that allow the banking agency (or others) to leverage cash that really isn't theirs by keeping it on their books for a few extra [time units]. I can imagine a clever scenario or two that relies on this as part of industrial espionage or attack...which I suppose might only be interesting to a handful of players like me.
I have only a layman's knowledge of economics or banking, so I'm still trying to get a handle on the full implications of what I'm imagining. That said, you're absolutely right to note the caper possibilities, which is part of why I arranged things as I did. I like worldbuilding to encourage fun scenarios or campaigns.
DeleteInteresting...in every sf roleplaying game I've ever played in, this is one of those hand-waved things. You're paid X,000 credits and it's like a bank account on Earth. I think it's one of those things where people just don't find worrying about this to be fun-enhancing. Or perhaps they've never thought about the possibilities to bring it into play.
DeleteHawala could be a relevant model. It's a network system of money transfer in use in many Middle Eastern and sub-continental countries. It originated in the 14th century in India. Since it worked in a time before there was near-instantaneous transmission of information on Earth, perhaps it could work in a future time where there is no neat-instantaneous transmission of information on a galactic scale.
I suspect there may be other medieval methods of managing money that could be reimplemented in the far future...it's really the same problems.