Barter System

By Ranjima Shine

Olden days there was a practice of exchange of things before the evolution of money. It was found that each commodity had a value of its own. You give a commodity to a person who is in need and get back and equivalent goods or products that you are in need of. This system is said to exist from 6000 BC onwards. There were difficulties as time evolved , like

The need of a person didn’t meet with the availability and people on the other end were not ready to give.

There was difficulty in travel from distant places and transportation of goods.

There was not fixed value for the goods, it kept changing as the demand increased. And at times not all goods can be divided in a rational way.

This is the point when there was the evolution of money. A standard value for the goods was decided easily. Money started in the form of shells, pebbles, stones etc. Later in 600 BC, metallic coins came in existence where each coin decided the fixed value of a commodity. Later in 7th century, Chinese developed the paper money. Now we have the digital and crypto currency.

During money crisis, barter system does feel better. It’s still in practice in many parts of the world. It has made a come back through online trades in form of auctions and swap markets.

The people of today doesn’t understand the value of a product nor the effort behind its production. Whether it’s food products through agriculture or through industrial manufacturing, the effort and the time invested is never understood. Barter system seems proving the value quotient to the buyers.

Even emotions have taken a form of bartering now a days. Humanity is long forgotten in the fast moving world. If you do a help you do expect something in return, what can it be better called ?. Every one do expect some benefit for every action done in the kith and kin.

Even families undergo this turmoil and disintegrate into smaller nuclear ones. Every tradition and culture around the world have undergone this change. Human race is so called evolved with sixth sense is losing all senses today.Barter system seems to be better for the day in terms of goods and services rather than in relationships.

For the present day, understanding the value of anything is most important. It helps in preserving and nurturing of the nature and surrounding earth we live in. Barter system do give emphasis on the terms of value aspect which is the need of the hour. The perception of the world may change and make it a better place to live in.

By Ranjima Shine