Have you ever wondered how the loonie in your pocket or the numbers in your bank account acquire their value?

The source of the mysterious power that imbues our money with purchasing value lies at the heart of some of the biggest pushback against addressing social and environmental ills and crises. Eliminating poverty, stabilizing climate and ensuring justice and equity for all are just some measures and ideas that face resistance because they would “cost too much.”

Why does money end up having a “value” that is deemed superior to even basic tangibles that support our lives?