FOR those of us who feel like there’s never quite enough of it in our pockets or bank accounts, the most basic concept of money seems quite straightforward — we need some more.

But money’s role today is far greater than merely being a way of paying for things. It lies at the centre of all political struggles about the type of society we want and how it might be achieved.

Despite the claims of some mainstream economists — and nearly all school textbooks — money is not a neutral element within an economy. It has always been a political and economic weapon, a social force that can get things done, control people and shape their lives.