Naples successfully creates complementary currency to the euro

The City of Naples successfully launched a complementary currency to the euro, napo, to combat the crisis and encourage consumption, allowing pay 10% of purchases in restaurants and shops in the city and is tax free.

This is not a virtual currency, like other initiatives, but with a note denominations of one, two, 5:10 napos, decorated with pictures of different landscapes typical Neapolitan and valid until 2016.

The napos specifically allow pay 10% of purchases in stores or restaurants that join, and one Napo equals one euro, but is not subject to tax.

There are several complementary currencies such, but napo is first launched in Europe by an official - A Town Hall - which, despite calling her coin, also states that it is a "slip off" and ensures you do not want to replace the euro.

The City Council has launched the currency with the help of the slogan "Europe has the euro and the Napoleonic Naples."

Since its introduction in late December last year in Naples increasingly longer heard the phrase "accepted napos?".

Naples, as all of southern Italy, is suffering more severe the crisis, with unemployment stands at 18% - when the Italian average stands at 11.7% - a youth unemployment of 45% and a decrease in consumption of 16%, which made the city back in 15 years, said the president of the Commercial Association Neapolitan Pietro Russo.

The project provides for the distribution of an amount equivalent to 70 million euros, of which 10 million have been distributed among citizens and tourists.

"The idea came to give a boost to the urban area of ​​Naples, which is commercially desertified due to the construction of large shopping centers in the vicinity," he told the EFE project promoter, Antonio Prigiobbo.

So far, the initiative expects to deliver 100 napos every family that pays an invoice delivered water, but could increase to 250 if in the future, show that made some gesture good for the community, such as volunteering or selective garbage collection, one of the big city problems.

The City of Naples rewards even tourists visiting the city, giving them 20 napos per night stay overnight in hotels, for a total of 200 euros, and also distribute napos to tourists arriving on cruise ships.

So far have joined about 150 stores, after signing a regulation that requires, among other things, not to increase the prices of their products.

Business owners can use napos in many ways, because they can give them in return for customers who want or spend them in other stores.

The idea is that in 2016, when the initiative ends, traders turn in the Chamber notes that, in exchange, they deliver furniture to beautify the areas in which their stores are located.



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