If you've read your Life After The State, you'll know I'm a huge admirer of Matt Ridley and, in particular, The Rational Optimist.

So I was delighted to read his column in Monday's Times - Could These Weird Coins Transform Our Lives.

You need to be a subscriber to the Times to read it in full. Now that Monday has passed, I'm sure those in charge will forgive me for posting this jailbroken copy for you to look at in case you're not -  Could these weird coins transform our lives? | The Times.