Problems of Interplanetary and Interstellar Trade
Author:
John Hickman a
| Affiliation: | a Department of Government and International Studies, Berry College, Mt. Berry, Georgia, USA |
DOI:
10.1080/14777620801910818
Publication Frequency:
3 issues per year
Subjects:
Security Studies - Pol & Intl Relns;
Strategic Studies;
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Abstract
If and when interplanetary and interstellar trade develop, it will be novel in two respects. First, the distances and time spans involved will reduce all or nearly all trade to the exchange of intangible goods. That threatens the possibility of conducting business in a genuinely common currency and of enforcing debt agreements incurred by governments. Second, interstellar trade suggests trade between humans and aliens. Cultural distance is a probable obstacle to initiating and sustaining such trade. Such exchange also threatens the release of new and dangerous memes.
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