Sweden moving towards cashless economy

[Locutus]

(AP) STOCKHOLM - Sweden was the first European country to introduce bank notes in 1661. Now it's come farther than most on the path toward getting rid of them.

"I can't see why we should be printing bank notes at all anymore," says Bjoern Ulvaeus, former member of 1970's pop group ABBA, and a vocal proponent for a world without cash.

The contours of such a society are starting to take shape in this high-tech nation, frustrating those who prefer coins and bills over digital money.

In most Swedish cities, public buses don't accept cash; tickets are prepaid or purchased with a cell phone text message. A small but growing number of businesses only take cards, and some bank offices — which make money on electronic transactions — have stopped handling cash altogether.

"There are towns where it isn't at all possible anymore to enter a bank and use cash," complains Curt Persson, chairman of Sweden's National Pensioners' Organization.

He says that's a problem for elderly people in rural areas who don't have credit cards or don't know how to use them to withdraw cash.


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Sweden moving towards cashless economy - CBS News

 

[WLDB]

I imagine this will eventually happen here.

 

[SLM]

It's not a bad idea. Costs a lot of money to print money.

Although I'm sure we'll see a raise in digital crime/theft.

They do everything on their cell phones in Sweden from what I understand. Everything from buying houses to filing their taxes.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Damn! Does this mean I will have to get a cell phone?

 

[WLDB]

They do everything on their cell phones in Sweden from what I understand. Everything from buying houses to filing their taxes.

I think I read not too long ago that soon digital passports will be available here. Just flash your phone at the border. Weird. I imagine online voting will eventually come too.

 

[skookumchuck]

Yet another way for the nanny state to know everything about you. Have they considered what will replace cash with the criminal element? Be careful what you ask for.

 

[WLDB]

Yet another way for the nanny state to know everything about you. Have they considered what will replace cash with the criminal element? Be careful what you ask for.

May be worth it to get rid of all my pennies.

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Careful now, a cashless society is one of the end times prophesies from book of revelations y'all...8O

 

[Cliffy]

I remember Born Againers warning about the Mark of the Beast. I said, "What the heck you think you SIN number is?"

Of course banks want a cashless society. They save on printing money and charge you for every transaction.... double their already obscene profits. Da Beav is right about those evil bankers...