Business Week came out recently with an article stating that cigarettes are the most stable international currency. In the Chinese province of Xi'an, Good Cat brand cigarettes are selling for as much as $890 a carton. In China, cigarettes are often used as a "currency for bribery," especially in the political sphere.
I thought this was an interesting read because it seems so odd to me. In my mind, I don't really picture cigarettes as a viable bribe. It will be interesting to experience different cultures on this study abroad and to learn what people value. (Not necessarily cigarettes, though :))
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-04/cigarettes-the-most-stable-international-currency
Katie Robinson
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ReplyDeleteI thought this was really interesting. I always thought that society viewed cigarettes negatively and that they wouldn't be a stable currency. I thought it was unique that they are so valuable and reliable in China and other nations even with the negative impacts they have on health.
ReplyDeleteIs this because cigaretts are so similar from place to place, so like gold, it is a standard? haha I really don't know the difference.
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