It is August in a small town on the south coast of France. Holiday season is in full swing, but it is raining so there is not too much business happening. Everyone is heavily in debt.
Luckily, a rich Russian tourist arrives in the foyer of the small local hotel. He asks for a room and puts a Euro 100 note on the reception counter, takes a key and goes to inspect the room located up the stairs on the third floor.
The hotel owner takes the bank note in a hurry and rushes to his meat supplier to whom he owes E100.
The butcher takes the money and races to his supplier to pay his debt.
The wholesaler rushes to the farmer to pay E100 for pigs he purchased some time ago.
The farmer triumphantly gives the E100 note to a local prostitute who gave him her services on credit.
The prostitute goes quickly to the hotel, as she owed the hotel E100 for her hourly room use to entertain clients.
At that moment, the rich Russian comes down to the reception and informs the hotel owner that the proposed room is not satisfactory and takes his E100 back and departs.
No one earned anything… but the debt of everyone has been cleared. The small town people are happy and look forward to their future.
Could this be the solution to the global financial crisis or is there a catch somewhere?
