Why cash will survive …

So I’m moving house – have I mentioned that before? – and have
house cleaning, clearing and removal services all hovering around doing work
this week.

Interestingly, all of them demanded cash.

I offered cheques.

Not interested.

PayPal?

No way.

Bitcoin?

Never ‘eard of it mate.

What’s going on?

Well of ocuerse, it’s the old dodge the tax man trick isn’t
it?

You get paid in cash, and no-one knows.

Claim benefits and earn a few hundred in cash on the
side?  No worries.

We used to call it the black economy, but now we refer to
this as the shadow economy.

A bit like shadow banking, it’s under the counter, invisible,
untaxable … and about as big as the real economy for some areas of business.

It’s the areas where money launderers operate.  Why is the €500 note the most laundered in the
world?  Because it means you can pack the
most money into a suitcase under your bed, of course!

It’s the reason why over 90% of dollars have cocaine on
them, as it’s the most common currency used to trade and sniff drugs.

It’s the reason why no-one wants cash to disappear.

So you talk to me about a cashless society and I’ll talk to
you about a paperless toilet.

It may be feasible, but it doesn’t sit well with the consumer,
unless you like a shot of air up yer bum.