Twelve Colonies - Economy (2004)

Economy (2004)

In the 2003 series, the official currency of the Twelve Colonies is, again, the Cubit (abbreviated cb in the reimagined series banknotes), which has been used since at least 58 years before the fall. It is similar to the euro in that the twelve worlds were united in a monetary union before the creation of the Twelve Colonies as a federal state. Unlike in the original series, cubits appear both in paper and metal form. Throughout the reimagined series, banknotes with the value of 100, 500, 1000 and possibly 10 cubits can be seen. Gold and silver coins are also used. The banknotes are square in shape and the coins are rectangular.

Before the fall of the Twelve Colonies some worlds were highly industrialized, such as Caprica and Virgon, whereas others were more dependent on agriculture, most notably Aerilon which is also nicknamed "the foodbasket of the Colonies". Prior to start of the First Cylon War, the economy of colonies such as Caprica were highly mechanized, but it is assumed that following the war the fear of Cylons had an impact on the economy of the Twelve Colonies. It is known that child labor is prohibited in the Twelve Colonies and that manual labor is the backbone of the refugee fleet's economy.

Following the complete destruction of the Twelve Colonies it is made clear by Tom Zarek that a currency-based economy is not functional in the refugee fleet that survived, but the government of Laura Roslin moves to address this issue.

Trade unions appear to play an important role in the lives of the working class in the refugee fleet and the settlers of New Caprica, and a strike was organized on the fleet's only tylium ship by the trade union. President Roslin takes the trade union's suggestions into consideration, but it is unclear whether trade unions played such an important role in the Twelve Colonies prior to the destruction or if they were created out of necessity during the colonists' stay on New Caprica. Although one day before the destruction of the colonies the teachers were on strike, President Adar does not seem to pay much attention to their demands.