Thursday, September 30, 2010

Should the US Treasury Brand Dollars for Extra Revenue?

Should the US Treasury sell ad space on its paper currency to help finance the deficit?  This practice might give new meaning to the term crony capitalism, but I bet many firms would be happy to buy advertising space on the currency to "cashvertise."  The USPS currently allows branded stamps, so why shouldn't the Bureau of Engraving and Printing allow the logos of the nations great companies on the currency.  Imagine the prestige of having the corporate logo on a 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 dollar bill rather than a sports arena.  It would be a win-win for the corporations and the taxpayers, and would be much easier to pull off than actually controlling government spending.  If advertising made Google what it is, just think what it can do for the US Government.
  
The average circulation life of paper money is:
$1: 1.8 years
$5: 1.3 years
$10: 1.5 years
$20: 2 years
$50: 4.6 years
$100: 7.4 years

Since the Treasury produces 38 Million USD bills per day, selling each ad for $1 per bill could generate as much as $14B a year above printing costs.  What do you think?  ;-)

2 comments:

  1. This is joke right? I think the United States Government can think of more innovative ways to generate funds, such as maybe not spending it so quickly???

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  2. Would the Grouch kid about something like this? ;-)

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