At the Moneyverse, I take on the role of Martin Schlegel. In front of me: a cockpit, a control lever and a screen. I push the policy rate higher – and immediately see what happens: borrowing becomes more expensive, inflation falls and economic growth slows. Move it lower and the opposite occurs: loans become cheaper, the economy receives a boost, but inflation tends to rise. Monetary policy suddenly stops being an abstract footnote and becomes something you can almost grasp with your own hands.
Located in Bern's Kaiserhaus, the Moneyverse revolves around one of humanity's greatest inventions: money. (Image: Marc Guerraz)
That is precisely the strength of this new venue in Bern's Kaiserhaus. The Swiss National Bank's new Moneyverse is not a traditional museum but a four-storey interactive experience that explores money from four perspectives: historical, economic, social and personal. Visitors quickly realise that this is not about a few old coins displayed behind glass, but about fundamental questions that shape everyday life: What is money? Why do we trust it? Why does it fascinate us?
Multimedia, Engaging and Accessible
The exhibition is particularly impressive where it focuses on the work of the Swiss National Bank. It clearly explains how monetary policy works, why the policy rate is so important and why even small changes can have major consequences. The presentation is multimedia-based, engaging and accessible enough for visitors with no financial background to follow with ease.
