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'''Money''' was a medium of exchange used to facilitate transactions of goods or services.
 
'''Money''' was a medium of exchange used to facilitate transactions of goods or services.
   
  +
In the [[20th century]] and early in the [[21st century]], [[dollar]]s were a commonly used for money. ({{DS9|Little Green Men}}) ({{ENT|Carpenter Street}})
Money in the [[21st century]] sense was not used on [[24th century]] [[Earth]]. The exact nature of the [[Federation]] economy is difficult to describe; while money had not entirely ceased to exist, it did not play the central role in the lives of Federation and Earth citizens that it once did. The descriptions given by various Federation citizens are as follows:
 
   
 
During the [[2020s]], the [[United States of America]] used [[credit chip]]s as a form of currency. ({{DS9|Past Tense, Part I}})
* [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] told [[Spock]] about [[20th century]] Earth: "''They're still using money. We need to get some.''" Later on, while Kirk was having dinner with [[Gillian Taylor]] and was unable to pay in the restaurant, Gillian asked sarcastically, "''Don't tell me they don't use money in the [[23rd century]],''" and Kirk told her "''Well, we don't.''" ({{film|4}})
 
   
 
Money in the [[21st century]] sense was not used on [[24th century]] [[Earth]]. The exact nature of the [[Federation]] economy was difficult to describe; while money may not have entirely ceased to exist, it did not play the central role in the lives of Federation and Earth citizens that it once did. The descriptions given by various Federation citizens varied:
  +
  +
* When preparing to fight the [[Klingon|Klingons]] on [[Organia]] in [[2267]], [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] said "Well, the Federation has spent a lot of money on our training..." ({{TOS|Errand of Mercy}})
  +
 
* During their excursion to [[1986]]-era [[San Francisco]], Kirk told [[Spock]] about [[20th century]] Earth: "''They're still using money. We need to get some.''" Later on, while Kirk was having dinner with [[Gillian Taylor]] and was unable to pay in the restaurant, Gillian asked sarcastically, "''Don't tell me they don't use money in the [[23rd century]],''" and Kirk earnestly replied, "''Well, we don't.''" ({{film|4}})
  +
  +
* Shortly before his retirement in the [[2290s]], [[Montgomery Scott]] stated that he had just bought a boat. ({{film|6}})
  +
 
* [[Leonard McCoy]] responded to [[Chang (General)|Chang]]'s constant quotations of [[William Shakespeare]] during [[Khitomer conspiracy|the battle of Khitomer]] that "''I'd give real money if he'd shut up.''" ({{film|6}})
 
* [[Leonard McCoy]] responded to [[Chang (General)|Chang]]'s constant quotations of [[William Shakespeare]] during [[Khitomer conspiracy|the battle of Khitomer]] that "''I'd give real money if he'd shut up.''" ({{film|6}})
  +
{{bginfo|These last two references could each be a turn-of-phrase with no literal implications.}}
   
 
* [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] said to [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] "This is my house, I sold it years ago." inside the Nexus, referring directly to the sale of his former home. ({{film|7}})
 
* [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] said to [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] "This is my house, I sold it years ago." inside the Nexus, referring directly to the sale of his former home. ({{film|7}})
  +
{{bginfo|It's possible that "sold" in this case is a figure of speech like Jake Sisko's first book, and simply referred to the transfer of the property to another owner.}}
   
* [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] tries to explain to [[Ralph Offenhouse]] from the 20th century that there would be no need for his law firm any longer: "''A lot has changed in three hundred years. People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of 'things'. We have eliminated hunger, want, the need for possessions.''" ({{TNG|The Neutral Zone}})
+
* [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] tried to explain to [[Ralph Offenhouse]] from the 20th century that there would be no need for his law firm any longer: "''A lot has changed in three hundred years. People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of 'things'. We have eliminated hunger, want, the need for possessions.''" ({{TNG|The Neutral Zone}})
   
 
[[File:Ferengi coin.jpg|thumb|A Ferengi coin]]
 
[[File:Ferengi coin.jpg|thumb|A Ferengi coin]]
 
* When [[Lily Sloane]] asked how much the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}} cost to build, Picard tells her "''The economics of the future is somewhat different. You see, money doesn't exist in the 24th century... The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of Humanity.''" ({{film|8}})
 
* When [[Lily Sloane]] asked how much the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}} cost to build, Picard tells her "''The economics of the future is somewhat different. You see, money doesn't exist in the 24th century... The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of Humanity.''" ({{film|8}})
   
* When [[Nog]] suggests that [[Jake Sisko|Jake]] should bid for a baseball card in an auction, Jake says "''I'm Human, I don't have any money.''" Nog replies "''It's not my fault that your species decided to abandon currency-based economics in favor of some philosophy of self-enhancement.''" Jake says "''Hey, watch it. There's nothing wrong with our philosophy. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.''" Nog then replies "''What does that mean?''" Jake responds "''It means we don't need money!''" Nog quickly points out, however, that Jake wouldn't be able to bid or borrow. ({{DS9|In the Cards}})
+
* When [[Nog]] suggested that [[Jake Sisko|Jake]] should bid for a baseball card in an auction, Jake said "''I'm Human, I don't have any money.''" Nog replied "''It's not my fault that your species decided to abandon currency-based economics in favor of some philosophy of self-enhancement.''" Jake said "''Hey, watch it. There's nothing wrong with our philosophy. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.''" Nog then replied "''What does that mean?''" Jake responded "''It means we don't need money!''" Nog quickly pointed out, however, that Jake wouldn't be able to bid or borrow. ({{DS9|In the Cards}})
   
 
* [[Jake Sisko|Jake]]: (big smile) "''I sold my first book today.''" [[Quark]]: "''Really? How much did you get for it?''" [[Jake Sisko|Jake]]: "''It's just a figure of speech. The [[Federation News Service]] is going to publish a book of my stories about life on the station under [[Dominion]] rule."'' Jake then confirmed Quark's suspicion that he was not paid. ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}})
 
* [[Jake Sisko|Jake]]: (big smile) "''I sold my first book today.''" [[Quark]]: "''Really? How much did you get for it?''" [[Jake Sisko|Jake]]: "''It's just a figure of speech. The [[Federation News Service]] is going to publish a book of my stories about life on the station under [[Dominion]] rule."'' Jake then confirmed Quark's suspicion that he was not paid. ({{DS9|You Are Cordially Invited}})
   
* [[Tom Paris]] says about the significance of [[Fort Knox]]: "''When the [[New World Economy]] took shape in the late [[22nd century]] and money went the way of the dinosaur, Fort Knox was turned into a [[museum]].''" ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}})
+
* [[Tom Paris]] said about the significance of [[Fort Knox]]: "''When the [[New World Economy]] took shape in the late [[22nd century]] and money went the way of the [[dinosaur]], Fort Knox was turned into a [[museum]].''" ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}})
   
However, money was not totally abandoned by all Federation citizens and some individuals, such as [[Carter Winston]], acquired vast personal fortunes during this same period. ({{TAS|The Survivor}}) Money also continued to be used on many other alien worlds, and for certain limited purposes in the Federation itself, especially when dealing with non-Federation members. Additionally, the crew of the {{USS|Voyager}}, faced with severe resource limitations after being flung into the [[Delta Quadrant]], treated [[replicator ration|rations on replicator]] and [[holodeck]] use as money and traded these amongst themselves.
+
However, wealth was not totally abandoned by all Federation citizens and some individuals, such as [[Carter Winston]], acquired vast personal fortunes during this same period. ({{TAS|The Survivor}}) Money also continued to be used on many other alien worlds, and for certain limited purposes in the Federation itself, especially when dealing with non-Federation members. Additionally, the crew of the {{USS|Voyager}}, faced with severe resource limitations after being flung into the [[Delta Quadrant]], treated [[replicator ration|rations on replicator]] and [[holodeck]] use as currency and traded these among themselves.
   
* When preparing to fight the [[Klingon|Klingons]] on [[Organia]], [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] said "Well, the Federation has spent a lot of money on our training..." ({{TOS|Errand of Mercy}})
+
* In [[2267]], [[Cyrano Jones]], after giving her one for free, told [[Lieutenant]] [[Nyota Uhura]] that "''a [[tribble]] is the only [[love]] that money can buy.''" ({{TOS|The Trouble with Tribbles}})
   
  +
* In [[2285]], [[Leonard McCoy]] wanted to pay a smuggler to transport him to the [[Genesis (planet)|Genesis Planet]]. ([[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock|''Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'']])
* [[Rishon Uxbridge]] referred to her husband [[Kevin Uxbridge]] as a "starving student" when she first met him. ({{TNG|The Survivors}})
 
{{bginfo|The term "starving" may be a social euphemism. It is certainly relative, as Trek generally has established that in the Federation, poverty, hunger, etc. have been eradicated among member planets. The implication is that while everyone in the Federation enjoys, at a minimum, a comfortably adequate standard of living, there are some whose standard is higher than others.}}
 
   
  +
* In [[2364]], [[Beverly Crusher]] bought a roll of cloth and had her account on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} billed. ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}})
* Quark sold his damaged [[Ferengi shuttle|shuttle]] ''[[Quark's Treasure]]'' for scrap, in the [[Sol system]], and was given enough to pay for passage back to Deep Space 9. ({{DS9|Little Green Men}})
 
   
 
* In [[2266]], an illusory representation of [[Rishon Uxbridge]] referred to her husband [[Kevin Uxbridge]] as a "starving student" when she first met him. ({{TNG|The Survivors}})
* The [[Bank of Bolias]] was a major financial institution, and [[Bolarus IX]], a Federation member planet, apparently has a market economy. ({{DS9|Starship Down|Who Mourns for Morn?}})
 
 
{{bginfo|The term "starving" may be a social euphemism. It is certainly relative, as Trek generally has established that in the Federation, poverty, hunger, etc. have been eradicated among member planets. The implication is that while everyone in the Federation enjoys, at a minimum, a comfortably adequate standard of living, there are some whose standard is higher than others.}}
   
* When he first entered [[Starfleet Academy]], [[Benjamin Sisko]] beamed back to his home in [[New Orleans]] so often that he later claimed to have used up a month's worth of "[[transporter credit]]s." ({{DS9|Explorers}})
+
* Quark sold his damaged [[Ferengi shuttle|shuttle]] ''[[Quark's Treasure]]'' for scrap, in the [[Sol system]], and was given enough to cover passage back to Deep Space 9. ({{DS9|Little Green Men}})
   
 
* The [[Bank of Bolias]] was a major financial institution, and apparently [[Bolarus IX]] had a market economy that fluctuated in value. ({{DS9|Starship Down|Who Mourns for Morn?}})
* In [[2373]], Quark indirectly caused damage to a [[cargo bay]]. Quark was informed that he would have to bear the cost burden for the repairs. ({{DS9|Business as Usual}})
 
   
  +
* When he first entered [[Starfleet Academy]], [[Benjamin Sisko]] beamed back to his home in [[New Orleans]] so often that he later claimed to have used up a month's worth of [[transporter credit]]s. ({{DS9|Explorers}})
* During the [[2020s]], the [[United States of America]] used [[credit chip]]s as a form of currency. ({{DS9|Past Tense, Part I}})
 
   
 
* In [[2373]], Quark indirectly caused damage to a [[cargo bay]]. Quark was informed that he would have to bear the cost burden for the repairs, though it was not clear if this burden was financial in nature. ({{DS9|Business as Usual}})
* When [[Kathryn Janeway]] told [[Kes]] the story of [[Tuvok]] and the [[Vulcan]] master he bought a meditation lamp from, she included the bit about how the price was doubled when he discoved they were with [[Starfleet]]. ({{VOY|The Gift}})
 
   
 
* When [[Kathryn Janeway]] told [[Kes]] the story of [[Tuvok]] and the [[Vulcan]] master he acquired a meditation lamp from, she included the bit about how the price was doubled when he discovered they were with [[Starfleet]]. ({{VOY|The Gift}})
* When [[Quark]] rescued [[Gaila (Ferengi)|Gaila]] from a Federation Starbase after his arrest on [[Thalos VI]], he had to pay a [[fine]] before he could be released. ({{DS9|The Magnificent Ferengi}})
 
   
 
* When [[Quark]] rescued [[Gaila (Ferengi)|Gaila]] from a Federation Starbase after his arrest on [[Thalos VI]], he had to pay a [[fine]] before he could be released. ({{DS9|The Magnificent Ferengi}})
* [[Benjamin Sisko]] threatened Quark to collect on four years "back rent" that was unpaid. ({{DS9|Bar Association}})
 
  +
{{bginfo|It is not specified that the fine was owed or paid to Starfleet or the Federation.}}
   
 
* [[Benjamin Sisko]] threatened Quark to collect on five years "back rent" that was unpaid, though the actual motivation was not fiscal. ({{DS9|Bar Association}})
* [[Quark's Bar]] would extend credit to its patrons, including Federation citizens and members of Starfleet.
 
   
 
* [[Quark's Bar]] would extend credit to its patrons, including Federation citizens and members of Starfleet. ({{DS9|Little Green Men}}, {{VOY|Caretaker}})
* On numerous occasions, [[Starfleet]] officers have gambled to win latinum at [[Quark's Bar]], including [[Julian Bashir]], [[William Riker]], [[Jadzia Dax]].
 
   
 
* On numerous occasions, [[Starfleet]] officers gambled to win latinum at [[Quark's Bar]], including [[Julian Bashir]], [[William Riker]], [[Jadzia Dax]].
* Quark once stated that he was in debt to some unnamed Humans. ({{DS9|Body Parts}})
 
   
 
* Quark once stated that he was in debt to some unnamed Humans, but considered defaulting on them a trivial matter. ({{DS9|Body Parts}})
* On [[Pollux IV]], after [[Pavel Chekov]] suggested that [[Apollo]] feeds off some external power source, Captain Kirk tells him that he's earned his pay for the week. ({{TOS|Who Mourns For Adonais?}})
 
   
 
== Monetary units ==
 
== Monetary units ==
Line 69: Line 80:
 
*[[Lita]] ([[Bajoran Provisional Government]])
 
*[[Lita]] ([[Bajoran Provisional Government]])
 
*[[Penny]]
 
*[[Penny]]
*[[British pound|Pound]] ([[Great Britain]])
+
*[[British pound|Pound]] ([[Old Britain]])
 
*[[Quatloo]] ([[Provider]]s of [[Triskelion]])
 
*[[Quatloo]] ([[Provider]]s of [[Triskelion]])
 
*[[Reichsmark]] ([[Germany]] ([[1924]]-[[1948]]))
 
*[[Reichsmark]] ([[Germany]] ([[1924]]-[[1948]]))
Line 83: Line 94:
 
[[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]], screenwriters of {{film|11}}, said in a question-and-answer session with fans that "there's money, or some kind of credit system" in the [[alternate reality]]. [http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/22/orci-and-kurtzman-reveal-star-trek-details-in-trekmovie-fan-qa/]
 
[[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]], screenwriters of {{film|11}}, said in a question-and-answer session with fans that "there's money, or some kind of credit system" in the [[alternate reality]]. [http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/22/orci-and-kurtzman-reveal-star-trek-details-in-trekmovie-fan-qa/]
   
This article uses material from [http://www.geocities.com/willbswift/costchart2.html The Economy of ''Star Trek''] and [http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/economy.htm The Economy of the Federation], and Usenet articles by Timo S. Saloniemi. There are non-[[canon]]ical references to Federation citizens receiving allotments of [[Replicator]] Credits (to provide [[food]] and other material needs) and Structure Credits (for housing and storage) in some ''Trek''-derived works.
+
This article uses material from {{brokenlink|http://www.geocities.com/willbswift/costchart2.html|The Economy of ''Star Trek''}} and {{eas|inconsistencies/economy.htm|The Economy of the Federation}}, and Usenet articles by Timo S. Saloniemi. There are non-[[canon]]ical references to Federation citizens receiving allotments of [[Replicator]] Credits (to provide [[food]] and other material needs) and Structure Credits (for housing and storage) in some ''Trek''-derived works.
 
   
 
[[de:Geld]]
 
[[de:Geld]]

Revision as of 19:10, 20 August 2015

"Well, if you don't need money, then you certainly don't need mine!"

-Nog, 2373 ("In the Cards")

Money was a medium of exchange used to facilitate transactions of goods or services.

In the 20th century and early in the 21st century, dollars were a commonly used for money. (DS9: "Little Green Men") (ENT: "Carpenter Street")

During the 2020s, the United States of America used credit chips as a form of currency. (DS9: "Past Tense, Part I")

Money in the 21st century sense was not used on 24th century Earth. The exact nature of the Federation economy was difficult to describe; while money may not have entirely ceased to exist, it did not play the central role in the lives of Federation and Earth citizens that it once did. The descriptions given by various Federation citizens varied:

These last two references could each be a turn-of-phrase with no literal implications.
It's possible that "sold" in this case is a figure of speech like Jake Sisko's first book, and simply referred to the transfer of the property to another owner.
  • Picard tried to explain to Ralph Offenhouse from the 20th century that there would be no need for his law firm any longer: "A lot has changed in three hundred years. People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of 'things'. We have eliminated hunger, want, the need for possessions." (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")
Ferengi coin

A Ferengi coin

  • When Lily Sloane asked how much the USS Enterprise-E cost to build, Picard tells her "The economics of the future is somewhat different. You see, money doesn't exist in the 24th century... The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of Humanity." (Star Trek: First Contact)
  • When Nog suggested that Jake should bid for a baseball card in an auction, Jake said "I'm Human, I don't have any money." Nog replied "It's not my fault that your species decided to abandon currency-based economics in favor of some philosophy of self-enhancement." Jake said "Hey, watch it. There's nothing wrong with our philosophy. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity." Nog then replied "What does that mean?" Jake responded "It means we don't need money!" Nog quickly pointed out, however, that Jake wouldn't be able to bid or borrow. (DS9: "In the Cards")

However, wealth was not totally abandoned by all Federation citizens and some individuals, such as Carter Winston, acquired vast personal fortunes during this same period. (TAS: "The Survivor") Money also continued to be used on many other alien worlds, and for certain limited purposes in the Federation itself, especially when dealing with non-Federation members. Additionally, the crew of the USS Voyager, faced with severe resource limitations after being flung into the Delta Quadrant, treated rations on replicator and holodeck use as currency and traded these among themselves.

The term "starving" may be a social euphemism. It is certainly relative, as Trek generally has established that in the Federation, poverty, hunger, etc. have been eradicated among member planets. The implication is that while everyone in the Federation enjoys, at a minimum, a comfortably adequate standard of living, there are some whose standard is higher than others.
  • In 2373, Quark indirectly caused damage to a cargo bay. Quark was informed that he would have to bear the cost burden for the repairs, though it was not clear if this burden was financial in nature. (DS9: "Business as Usual")
It is not specified that the fine was owed or paid to Starfleet or the Federation.
  • Quark once stated that he was in debt to some unnamed Humans, but considered defaulting on them a trivial matter. (DS9: "Body Parts")

Monetary units

Background

Ronald D. Moore commented: "By the time I joined TNG, Gene had decreed that money most emphatically did NOT exist in the Federation, nor did 'credits' and that was that. Personally, I've always felt this was a bunch of hooey, but it was one of the rules and that's that." (AOL chat, 1997)

At least once, Kirk commented to Scotty, "You just earned your pay for the week!" (Season 2 "The Dooms Day Machine") It is not known whether this was a simple vestigial idiom or an error of the episode's writer. (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine") A similar comment was made to Chekov, again by Kirk. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?")

Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, screenwriters of Star Trek, said in a question-and-answer session with fans that "there's money, or some kind of credit system" in the alternate reality. [1]

This article uses material from Template:Brokenlink and The Economy of the Federation, and Usenet articles by Timo S. Saloniemi. There are non-canonical references to Federation citizens receiving allotments of Replicator Credits (to provide food and other material needs) and Structure Credits (for housing and storage) in some Trek-derived works.