Serena works for a shoemaker in a small shop, doing a variety of tasks. at the end of the week, the shoemaker offers her a choice: she can be paid with cash, or with her choice of a pair of shoes. serena chooses cash, which confirms georg simmel’s theory that says is part of a historical evolution of economy that has many advantages.

Currently, as of february 2016, an american traveling in france would be by the exchange rate. the weakness of the euro and the strength of the us dollar means that items in france cost less to an american than they otherwise would. of course, if this trend reverses and the us dollar weakens and the euro strengthens, such as was happening in early 2008, an american traveling in france would have an adverse experience because items would cost relatively more.