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Complementary Currency: A Case Study of the Dane County TimeBank

Koppelman, Alex
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439279965

Abstract Details

2015, MCP, University of Cincinnati, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Community Planning.
This research is a descriptive case study of the Dane County TimeBank Inc., an organization founded in 2005 and located in Madison, Wisconsin. This study describes and analyzes the unique organizational workings of this timebank from 2005 to 2013. Specifically, the study focuses on the key organizational characteristics, membership and finances of the Dane County TimeBank (DCTB). Complementary currency is an alternative form of currency restricted to a local area, designed to promote exchange and communal support in that area (Lyon & Moberg, 2010). There are three different models of complementary currency including Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS), local-printed currencies and timebanks. Timebanks use an hour of time as a standard rate of value and track exchanges between timebank members using an online credit system. A 2012 study confirmed the existence of 128 timebank organizations operating in the United States (Collom, Lasker and Kyriacou (2012). Timebanks also are operating in over 32 countries worldwide. Research regarding the Dane County TimeBank followed the descriptive case study method (Yin, 2009). Forty-eight documents were collected from the archives of the Dane County TimeBank (DCTB) and analyzed according to the three research interests in this study. Analysis of organizational characteristics showed that DCTB programs, the DCTB board and DCTB sub-groups were key to the organization’s development and growth leading to funding and increases in membership. The Dane County TimeBank increased its individual membership well beyond the average number for a timebank and listed close to 2,000 individual members in 2013. Analysis of membership found that sub-groups were key to geographical expansion of the DCTB beyond the municipal level, something no other timebank identified in existing research has been able to do. Individual membership in the DCTB increased at a faster rate than the population growth of Madison. The DCTB also accumulated over 150 organizational members by 2013. A variety of different organizations joined as members of the DCTB, receiving service from individual timebank members. Organizational members also led to partnerships, program development and sources of funding for the DCTB. The analysis of finances showed that the DCTB was able to gain funding from multiple sources, including significant funding from local, state and county government. Local/county government contracts and grants were the greatest source of funding. Balancing revenue and expenses was one of the greatest challenges of the DCTB. Non-profit organizations, like the DCTB, often have similar dilemmas. The DCTB also operated with a limited staff. The DCTB plans to create a new model of complementary currency in 2015 called a Mutual Aid Network (MAN). This study calls for future research that can investigate the changes in this model. This research is important to understanding the effectiveness and sustainability of complementary currency organizations.
Jan Fritz, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Rainer Vomhofe, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
149 p.
Urban Planning
Timebank; Dane County TimeBank; Complementary Currency; Local Currency; Community Currency; Volunteering

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Koppelman, A. (2015). Complementary Currency: A Case Study of the Dane County TimeBank [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439279965

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Koppelman, Alex. Complementary Currency: A Case Study of the Dane County TimeBank. 2015. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439279965.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Koppelman, Alex. "Complementary Currency: A Case Study of the Dane County TimeBank." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439279965

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1439279965
541
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.