BARTER SYSTEMS can help nurture new business initiatives to build sustainable commerce in local communities, an economist said yesterday.

Dr Constantin Gurdgiev was in Clonakilty yesterday to officially launch the town’s fledgling favour exchange system.

The scheme, launched eight weeks ago, offers a growing range of skills, goods and labour as part of a cashless transaction system.

The system illustrates how “exasperated” communities are looking inwards for solutions to problems such as income reduction and unemployment.

“It’s part of the rise of people locally looking for solutions. People are exasperated because there are no solutions coming from the Government in Dublin,” Dr Gurdgiev said.

Members create an online profile to offer their skills: the database includes everything from surf lessons to legal advice, from land grazing to carpentry.

“We made a list of everything on offer and were amazed at what was included. It’s a substantial source of help to people,” Miriam Cotton, one of four founding members, said. The Clonakilty scheme has sparked the creation of a second scheme based on the same model in Killarney.

A successful barter system brings an important social dimension for the unemployed, Dr Gurdgiev said. “With macroeconomic crisis, and also very deep personal crisis across the country, it’s important to maintain engagements within the community. Such engagement – providing a service – improves self-worth, emotional and mental wellbeing.”