22nd century economy

[neozeks]

So, in all the discussions on the subject of economy in Trek everyone always talks about the 23rd and the 24th centuries. But what about the 22nd century?

We know a few things. Humanity is not as technologically advanced as it will become later. There are no replicators. A protein resequencer was mentioned, but it strikes me as more of a state-of-the-art technology used on missions like the Enterprise's and not as something in widespread usage. Yet, despite having a few more rougher edges than in later centuries, humanity has obviously changed a lot. War, poverty and disease have been eradicated. I suppose a devastating nuclear war shortly followed by contact with aliens were enough to trigger this change. Vulcans also probably provided guidance, maybe even some technology.

But does money still exist? Was it ever mentioned or seen on ENT? I remember Tom Paris in VOY had a line about money going the way of the dinosaurs. What year did he mention?

(I have put this in General Trek because I think it's a part of a greater question connected to all the series. But, Mods, if you think it should go to the ENT subforum, please move it.)

 

[species5618]

But does money still exist? Was it ever mentioned or seen on ENT? I remember Tom Paris in VOY had a line about money going the way of the dinosaurs. What year did he mention?

I'm not sure if money was really ever mentioned in ENT, but in 'Dark Frontier' Tom Paris says that money went the way of the dinosaur in the late 22nd century--no year specified. This would imply that some form of capitalism existed during the mid 22nd century time frame of ENT.

 

[Timo]

...And that after that, money evolved into birds.

I don't think money was mentioned in ENT, either. Then again, nobody promoted the "we no longer use money" angle. So the presence and absence of money would both be equally supported by lack of contrary evidence...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Start Wreck]

I think there's mention in one episode of Enterprise about Earth abolishing poverty (as well as disease, famine, etc.), but that's pretty vague, and certainly doesn't mean "no money".

 

[Sci]

The line from "Dark Frontier" is inconsistent with TOS, wherein we see characters use money or motivated by financial gain quite often -- everything from "Mudd's Women" to "The Trouble With Tribbles" to "Errand of Mercy" to "The Devil in the Dark" to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock feature Federates and Humans engaging in monetary exchanges and being motivated by greed.

ENT's finale contained a reference to money. The hologram of Trip compares the kind of trust Trip had in Jonathan Archer favorably to the kind of trust you have that a friend won't steal your money.