Economic systems

Main article: Ratings system

Economic systems refer to methods by which resource allocation occurs as a result of the ratings system. In particular, the ratings system should make possible the democratization of resource allocation. Using the system, people will rate each other's claims to economic goods based on multiple factors such as their productivity, needs, overall rating, etc. Since the ratings system has both a subjective and community version, we distinguish two types of economic system, the SRBE and CRBE (subjective and community ratings based economy). The SRBE would be the default since it is based on a subjective ratings system, although its integration into an intentional community is also considered. The CRBE forms a large part of the discussion here since the presence of a community is assumed. However, both systems lead to egalitarian economic outcomes and the SRBE has the benefit of growing organically out of the completely decentralized subjective ratings system.

Another related and fundamental distinction is between a moneyed and a moneyless economic system. Either approach is possible or some combination of the two. We note, however, that the ratings system and attendant software should provide a feasible alternative to money and eliminate its corrupting influence. The SRBE, in particular, would probably work better in a moneyless system.

We begin by outlining some ideas by which economic predicates in a ratings system could work. These are the questions that people would be rated on which would influence their ability to fulfill economic claims. One of these, productivity is highly relevant to judging not only "deservingness" but also economic performance writ large. We might also, alongside these concepts, try to understand personal economic choices and sacrificial contributions, ones that are difficult to place in a traditional self-interested economic context.

Since we highlight egalitarian economic systems, we might take a look at the history of such systems in contemporary society. Of particular interest is their ability to incentivize productive work. Speaking of productivity, we note that participation in the ratings system will be part of everyone's "job", at least in the community-based system (as opposed to the subjective system). As such members may be compensated depending on the distribution of income rules, their rating, productivity, and so on.

Making good economic decisions is closely tied to system modeling. Our goal is to help communities clearly understand economic policy choices and avoid economic loss.

The backdrop for all these ideas is the influence of wealth in contemporary society, particularly on how it erodes democratic principles. We envision communities based on the ratings system to have transparent economic systems with democratically defined rules and a built-in enforcement mechanism.