Time As Money

Filmmaker Leonore E. Eklund's documentary centers on the concept of time banks, which might be seen as either the 21st-century version of volunteering or an expression of altruism taken to new heights. Conceived by Edgar Cahn, a noted civil rights attorney and speechwriter for Robert F. Kennedy, time banks create a forum in which people can exchange services without cash transactions. Instead, “time dollars” are used for equable exchanges—i.e., an hour of your time in offering a service would equal an hour of my time, either reciprocal for my service or transferred to another member of the time bank. The calculation of time dollars is kept online, thus enabling those involved to keep track of input and output. The range of “jobs” here include providing a ride to the airport, offering yoga instruction, and a lesson in how to preserve beans. The popularity of time banks has been linked to the continued weakness of the U.S. economy following the 2008 crash, although whether this cashless system will continue if the economy rebounds is uncertain. Although a bit too long, Time As Money does offer a solid overview of an intriguing socioeconomic phenomenon. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)