Soybean, bricks, dollars and the reality of money. Multiple monies during currency exchange restrictions in Argentina (2011-2015).?

MARIANA LUZZI; ARIEL WILKIS

Hau. Journal of Etnographic Theory

Hau.Journal of Etnographic Theory

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2018 vol. 8 p. 252 - 264

2049-1115

This article aims to show that multiple currencies and multiple monetary functions can embody the ideas and practices of money?s reality. We explore the multiple reality of money through the effects of the currency exchange restrictions implemented in Argentina in 2011-2015. Based on a fieldwork conducted between 2014 and 2015 in the cities of Buenos Aires and Santa Fe we describe uses and meanings of multiple currencies on two specific markets (real estate and soybean production). In these two cases, beside the long term use of US dollar for different transactions, the creation of new currencies rely on the definition of what is considered ?real? in each universe (for instance, soy producers who take the ?soybean? as the unit of account and store of value or real estate developers who use ?square meters? as a unit of account). The two cases we present here provide insight on the connections between dynamic currency pluralism, the temporality of transactions and the experiences of money?s reality.