148. Economy 2.0 - Alternative currencies and their role in development

For today’s episode, host Josh Sidman is joined by Dr. Will Ruddick.Dr. Ruddick is a development economist specializing in currency innovation. Before shifting his focus to economics and development, he conducted graduate research in high-energy physics as a collaboration member at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Since 2008, he has lived in East Africa, leading initiatives in environmental sustainability, food security, and economic development.His work centers on Community Inclusion Currencies (CICs) as a tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Since 2010, he has pioneered CIC programs in Kenya, founding the Sarafu-Network and Bangla-Pesa, which provide alternative means of exchange to marginalized communities. He is also the founder of the Grassroots Economics Foundation, which supports local economies through innovative financial tools.Dr. Ruddick has worked with with organizations such as the World Food Program, the Red Cross, and the University of Cape Town’s Environmental Economics Policy Research Unit. He is also an associate scholar with the University of Cumbria’s Initiative for Leadership and Sustainability, where he contributes to research on alternative monetary systems and economic resilience. Dr. Ruddick earned his master's in high energy physics from the University of Colorado Boulder and his Ph.D. in Development Economics and International Development from the University of Cape Town.Together, we discussed Dr. Ruddick’s introduction of alternative currencies to other countries, why he’s hopeful about the elimination of USAID, and how his experience in Kenya shaped his future career.To check out more of our content, including our research and policy tools, visit our website: https://www.hgsss.org/