Barter & Beyond

An Educational Resource Coordination Game

Barter & Beyond is designed to teach principles of economics in markets and resource coordination practices. The game consists of three rounds: Barter Trade, Currency, and Pooling, each highlighting different economic models and their efficiencies in resource distribution. 3+ players needed.

Materials Needed

• A bag of beans or other small prizes (representing production/rewards).

• One or more decks of playing cards (you will need 4 cards for each player) These can be standard playing cards - or make your own resource cards with sets of 4.

• Small white (or any color) pieces of paper (equal in number to the players).

• A timer (10 minutes and half a minute)

• A basket large enough to hold one card from each player. (I prefer a large winnowing basket - but you could also use a serving platter)

  

The basic idea: The playing cards represent commitments for resources. We will imagine that finding a matching set of 4 cards is proof that needed resources have been gathered and the beans are your rewards / production / harvest. The white papers will represent currency.

e.g. Swapping with others to get 4 of a kind (like 4 aces) is like getting together what you need to rear chickens and the beans will represent eggs. (note having cards actually depicting sets of various resources is best - but playing with normal playing cards is fine too.)

Game Rounds and Setup

Round 1: Barter Trade

1. Setup:

   • Each player receives 4 random playing cards from the Steward (who oversees the beans).

   • Players must swap cards with each other to collect a full set of 4 of a kind. (ex. four aces)

2. Gameplay:

   • Players swap cards with other players until they form a set of 4 of a kind.

     • Note that both players should benefit from the swap

   • Upon forming a set, they trade it for a bean with the Steward.

   • The bean steward verifies the set and takes their old cards mixes them into a pile. The player must draw 4 new random cards and return to swapping.

3. End of Round:

   • After 10 minutes close the market!

   • The player with the most beans wins the round!

   • Count the beans each player has earned. Keep track on a piece of paper for each round.

   • Example tally: 0 beans = 10 players, 1 bean = 6 players, 2 beans = 6 players etc. Total 6+2x6 = 18 beans

Round 2: Currency

1. Setup:

   • Return all beans and cards to the steward.

   • Players receive 4 random playing cards and 1 blank white cards

   • White papers can be traded for cards at a 1:1 ratio among players.

2. Gameplay:

   • Players swap cards and/or white papers to collect a set of 4 of a kind.

   • As before - They trade sets of 4 matching cards (no white cards) for beans.

   • After getting a bean - receive 4 new random cards and return to swapping.

3. End of Round:

   • The player with the most beans wins!

   • After 10 minutes, count the beans each player has earned.

   • Example tally: 0 beans = 3 players, 1 bean = 7 players, 2 beans = 5 etc. Total = 7+ 2x5 = 17

Round 3: Pooling

1. Setup:

   • Return all beans and cards and white papers to the steward.

   • Players again receive 4 random playing cards and 0 white pieces of paper.

   • A basket (representing a commons) is introduced.

2. Gameplay:

   • Each player must contribute one card to the basket (spread out and facing up).

   • Players take turns (half a minute is enough - use a timer) swapping any card in their hand with a card from the basket. (1:1)

   • Again players must form sets of 4 of a kind to earn beans - and then receive new random cards. On their turn with the basket they may be able to make several sets and get several beans as a result.

   • Passing the basket around in a circle works well. The basket may be able to make several rotations among all players.

3. End of Round:

   1. After 10 minutes, count the beans each player has earned.

   2. Congratulate whomever won the most beans this rounds but be sure to keep track of how many beans were earned in each round.
      Example tally: 0 beans = 0 players, 1 bean = 7 players, 2 beans 5 players etc. Total = 7+ 2x5 = 17

Analysis and Insights

Each round demonstrates different resource coordination / economic models:

• Barter Trade highlights the inefficiencies of direct trading.

• Currency introduces a medium of exchange, simplifying trades and increasing efficiency.

• Pooling mimics ancient forms of resource coordination, showing the advantages of collaborative resource management, reciprocal exchange and sharing, leading to potentially higher rewards.

The game is loosely based on real-world applications of resource coordination and commitment pooling, particularly inspired by Matthew Slater’s demonstration in Kenya and Grassroots Economics' work. Note that by combining barter, vouchers and pooling together with or without national currencies we can have many methods for resource coordination!

By simulating these economic models, players can understand the benefits of resource coordination in real-life scenarios. This game serves as a practical demonstration of how Grassroots Economics' Community Asset Vouchers and Commitment Pooling Protocols can be applied to enhance community well-being through effective resource management. Click here for an introduction to Commitment Pooling.