From an analysis of the literature, this article proposes a reading of the contributions of complementary currency systems (CCS) to promote social and economics change. After a presentation of the nature and diversity of CCS, this paper analyzes the method deployed by the literature to evaluate the scope of CCS and the diversity of impact measures criteria.This article argues these new monetary arrangements are part of local economic and socio-economic dynamics, and should be seen as weapons in the struggle against social and monetary exclusion. CCS raise important questions on the emergence of a new economic order, based on new standards of production and consumption and on the role and place of money in the economy. Finally, we conclude with a return to the question of their scale, one of the challenges facing CCS.