In Beaujolais, the Azergues valley, the Monts d'Or or the Monts du Lyonnais, you can pay for your purchases in Gonettes.
1 € = 1G.
The context
“In 2011, a collective of citizens, made aware of the difficulties of local shops and the current excesses of finance, wondered about money, a central and essential tool in the context of economic, social and democratic crises. Inspired by other initiatives in France and around the world, this collective created an association and the project of MLCC (Local Currency Citizen) in the region of Lyon. One of the ambitions of the project is to put money back at the heart of the citizen debate. ”
Extract from an article Le journal de l'éco, published for the first year of local currency.
The project
The Gonette is the local citizen currency of the Lyonnaise region. 1 euro = 1 Gonnette.
Created in 2015, this complementary currency to the Euro aims to set up a new monetary tool which gives back to each citizen the power to better understand the functioning of the current financial system and its drifts, while actively participating in decisions about the future of the project.
When a shopkeeper, for example, is paid in Gonettes, he cannot put them into his bank account. He is obliged to reuse them in the professional network which accepts Gonettes.
“For example, you buy your baguette in Gonettes, the baker will spend them on a flour supplier, who will pay him for his electricity in Gonettes and so on. Local currency circulates between these different partners, which helps revitalize the local economy. This can range from food to outings, garage owners, clothing stores, jewelry stores, doctors, therapists ... The network covers almost all aspects of daily life. ”
Media InfoDurable in 2018
Results :
- 280 providers, in 2018
- 180,000 gonettes in circulation in 2018
Project leaders
Initiated in the fall of 2011 by a citizen collective, the Gonette was put into circulation on November 7, 2015. Since then, the 60 active members of the project have been mobilizing to develop this local currency throughout the economic basin of Lyon and Villefranche. The project has received a very favorable reception from institutional actors (in particular the Rhône Alpes Region, the City of Lyon and the metropolis).
The Little Extra
The association created an application in 2018 that reproduces the interactive map of the website, making it easier to access and easier to use. It also allows you to be geolocated in order to see the merchants and exchange counters that accept La Gonette around, and also take out your membership in the association!
Written by Claire Caillaud, LFC volunteer - May 2019.
Last modification : 30 Mar 2020.
The Gonette
The Gonette is the Local Complementary and Citizen Currency (MLCC) of the region of Lyon. Launched in 2015, it quickly convinced professionals and citizens, so that its network is growing day by day.