eFin & Democracy – Democracy issues of the digitalised financial sector

The digital transformation of the financial sector is in full swing. Yet, do we actually know enough about crypto and co? About network-based payment systems? Or about the digital Euro which is likely to be introduced within a few years from now? As of now, the disruption or change which the digital transformation of the financial sector might involve for citizens, democracy and the future of European society are largely unknown. Specialists are familiar with them, but often within their fields of expertise alone. And what about broader debates and participation?

Civil society participation and broader public discussion require understanding and interdisciplinary exchange. Hence, in order to start a broader discourse on the topic and for highlighting its most relevant aspects, more stimuli and input are necessary. As a discourse project,eFin & Democracy addresses these issues as a strong initiative going beyond science. Its aim is to bring broader target groups and thus citizens as well as companies and politics into conversation with each other. Via events and different media formats, it gradually integrates actors and target groups into the project.

Formats

The Podcast Digitalgelddickicht

The Podcast Digitalgelddickicht explores what is otherwise only discussed among experts. The podcast doesn’t have all the answers – and certainly no financial tips. Instead, it aims to pose questions and stimulate public conversation about how the digital transformation of the financial sector affects our political and social world. The Podcast is in German.

eFin & Democracy on Social Media

Current news from the project and links to interesting and further content about our key topics can also be found on X (formerly Twitter) under @eFin_Diskurs and on Mastodon under @eFin_Diskurs@mas.to (mostly in German).

The eFin-Blog

The Blog tries to understand the transformation and to promote debate – also as part of our democracy. Project staff and guests write freely and in a diverse fashion about what they are learning and exploring, what worries them and what fascinates them. The Blog is written in German.

The Citizen Lectures

In the Citizen Lectures scientists and experts are asked to provide insights into their specialist field, impart basic knowledge and make suggestions for a broader discussion.

Dialogue

Dialogue formats aim to involve citizens and stakeholders more directly. At the Market for Useful and Non-Knowledge they entered into a direct exchange with experts. eFin & Democracy was present at the Digital Summit 2024. The Bürgergutachten digitaler Euro (German only) invited laypeople to articulate which aspects of the CBDC’ design the public should be informed about.

Film: Follow the [New] Money – On the Trail of Cyrpto, Cards, Coins and Cash

A Market for Useful Knowledge and Non-Knowledge under the title Follow the Money – Of Analogue Values, Digital Currencies and the Quantification of the World was staged in Frankfurt/Main on 16 September 2023. In 1:1 conversations with visitors – and audible via event radio – around 90 experts followed the traces of money on a large scale, on a small scale and in their own lives. The film zooms in into 8 of these conversations, all revolving around digital payment.

Digitalization and Finance: Video Portraits

As part of his residency at ZEVEDI and eFin & Democracy, videographer and artist Rainer Lind has brought a wide variety of people in front of his camera. He has created the kind of video portraits he is known for but with a specific focus: his interviewees’ life, hobby or profession has brought them in direct contact with the potentials and risks, hopes and abysses associated with an increasingly digitalized financial world: from crypto-enthusiast to Frankfurt’s senior public prosecutor Jana Ringwald (photo). The interviews are in German.

Podcast Episodes of Finance & Feelings

During her residency with us, finance journalist and podcaster Anissa Brinkhoff has investigated questions of gender equality and aspects of female finance in the analog and digital financial system. On her profile you can find all previous episodes of her podcast Finance & Feelings.
You finde the residency-related episode with Carola Westermeier here.
You find the episode with Mareice Kaiser here. The episodes are in German.

INTERVIEW: “Digital Money – Indifference is of no avail to us”

An AufRuhr Interview about the Project eFin & Democracy and the “BitBlockKryptoComic” with the Mercator-Journalist in Residence an graphic novelist Martin Karcher and team member Caroline Marburger. The interview is in German.