1. Introduction: The 360 Degrees of Cashlessness

The case studies in this book look in detail into the building blocks of the development and transition to a cashless economy. Research from different areas in academia combined with views from practitioners, enables us to explore the term ‘cashless’ from a wide range of perspectives, uses, contexts and eras. We believe that the notion of ‘cashless’ is multifaceted, broad and important to be handled in a casual manner. With these concerns in mind, contributions to this edited book form a rich portfolio aiming to assess some of the most significant phenomena in retail payments in a comprehensive, long-term perspective. Contributions from six different continents enable an exploration and assessment of a global transition to a cashless economy, cashless systems, and a contemplation of future alternatives to banknotes, coins, cheques and plastic. The objective is to formulate a better understanding of innovation in payment systems and how it co-evolves with changes in society and organisations through personal, corporate and governmental processes.