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Enrichment

Mackerel as a Currency - the Secret Prison Economy

Graham Watson

11th March 2017

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This is one of the most unusual demonstrations of the charcteristics and functions of money that I have come across. Ever. It looks at how in US prisons, mackerel - yes, you read that correctly - have become a unit of currency. This animated clip demonstrates why, and how that is possible.

Mackerel as a currency - the secret prison economy

My favourite bits of the clip are where the difference between "eating macks" and "money macks" is discussed. And the day when hyperinflation came to town.

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Graham Watson

Graham Watson has taught Economics for over twenty years. He contributes to Tutor2U, reads voraciously and is interested in all aspects of Teaching and Learning.

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