Australian charity experiment could be right on the money

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Australian charity experiment could be right on the money

As we’ve reported, some US towns have started printing their own currency to help low-income residents purchase essentials from local businesses…

Now, an entire continent is in it to mint it

The Royal Australian Mint is casting 25m “Donation Dollars” — the first coin of its kind in the world — to encourage altruism among Aussies.

These coins are legal tender: They can be spent just like any other $1 coin, and will be treated by businesses as any other form of cash. But the government’s hope is that Australians will donate the coins to charity.

Analysts estimate that if each citizen gave away 1 Donation Dollar/month, the government would circulate $300m/year for charities.

It’s been a rough year Down Under

In January, wildfires decimated 72k square miles of land. Then, the pandemic hit, barrelling Australia into its first recession in nearly 3 decades.

New numbers from the Australian Generosity Report show that 1 in 5 Australians will need some type of assistance in the next 12 months.

Fellow Aussies are ready to step up, with nearly 3 in 5 saying they’re inclined to give a Donation Dollar if they find one clinking around in their pocket change.

Topics:

International

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