Shaping a More Meaningful Economy — Part 6
Fair Participation
For Pioneers
Do you also believe that the current economic system is unlikely to solve the problems it causes? Are you ready to overcome old thought patterns and break new ground?
At One-X, we have spent the last few years working to develop a new, workable economic system. In our first article we have described the vision of this new paradigm, and we would like here to further introduce you to the concept and invite you to participate in this work.
We are seeking co-creators to bring this next economic system to life in larger contexts, where it can be further tested and create real impact. After two years of proof-of-concept, we believe that One-X is now mature enough to bring value to others.
Five Qualities to Overcome Our Challenges
The existing global economic system is plagued by pressing issues: growing social inequality and excessive exploitation of natural resources. One-X offers an open network where people and projects can come together to solve these challenges.
One-X’s long-term goal is to meet the needs of everyone in the world. While this may seem utopian at first, One-X provides the ideal experimental space to move closer to this goal through five key qualities:
- Voluntary Engagement
- Peer Empowerment
- Environmental Respect
- Purposeful Investment
- Fair Participation
These qualities are achieved through the consistent implementation of ten principles, two for each quality. After our article on Purposeful Investment we now present the 9th and 10th principles to ensure Fair Participation so that Individual work and compensation are balanced with the needs and opportunities of the community.
Our Sense of Justice
In One-X, every individual’s needs are equally valued, regardless of their location, occupation, identity, or possessions. The principle of equity is upheld, ensuring that each person receives what they require to lead a fulfilling life, without excess or deficiency. Simultaneously, every individual shares an equal responsibility for our collective well-being and contributes according to their abilities, neither more nor less. The elimination of burnout and disengagement arises from the absence of the need for excessive work to make ends meet. Unjustifiable wage gaps and poverty do not exist within the One-X framework.
Currently, social inequality persists and, in some cases, continues to worsen. Although efforts have been made to alleviate extreme poverty, significant disparities remain between affluent regions that deplete resources and regions with scarce resources. Opportunities and working conditions vary greatly, with some individuals enjoying lives of pleasure and leisure while others face daily struggles to provide for their families. Unfortunately, individuals’ life outcomes are often predetermined by the circumstances they are born into, perpetuating an unjust system.
The pursuit of fairness aligns with our innate sense of justice, and establishing a more equitable system, both in terms of work and wealth distribution, would address the needs of the majority of people worldwide. By addressing this fundamental need for fairness, we can unlock substantial energy and enhance the lives and perspectives of countless individuals.
In conclusion, fairness is a concept that intertwines two closely connected aspects. If we distribute the workload equally among individuals, we should also strive for a similar high standard of living for all. This does not mean that everyone is required to perform the same amount or type of work, or receive the same level of income. What we receive and contribute should align with our abilities and needs. While comparing different life situations may be challenging, we are still able to establish a foundational level of fairness that is accepted by all. The next two principles address these concerns.
9th Principle: Contribute What You Can
We all strive for a life of prosperity and know that this is only possible through cooperation. By using our skills and abilities in a coordinated way, we can continuously increase the common good.
In today’s economic system, we often focus on our individual goals to get the most bang for our buck. Some of us work less than we could because we already have everything we need. Others overextend themselves in an effort to achieve what they need. Many are no longer committed to their work, but don’t show it openly so as not to jeopardize their financial security. Employers and employees are often in fundamental conflict in this system, as employers seek as much effort for as little money as possible, while employees want just the opposite. In this system, it is accepted to remain unemployed if a fitting remuneration for the work cannot be found.
At One-X, we see work as any action that consciously contributes to bringing benefit to the community without necessarily being financially rewarded. By taking on this responsibility for the common good, we can simultaneously fulfill our own lives and self-actualize. Moreover, we also understand that over- or under-achievement can have negative effects on both the individual and the community. For this reason, we commit ourselves fairly and with our individual skills and resources to the common good. We trust that this will create more prosperity for all and share the burden among more people.
How have we implemented this principle?
In One-X, every member has an obligation to use their skills fairly and continuously develop them. The focus is on purposeful attention rather than specific results or performance. The fairness of the workload is determined by the individual’s abilities, available energy, and the community’s need for support. The Good Life institutional entity assists members in determining an appropriate workload, while the Market institutional entity helps identify activities that align with their skills and promote meaningful employment.
Critics argue:
- “Members won’t make an effort without clear rewards.” We respond: Individual engagement is transparent in the community, and intrinsic motivation often outweighs extrinsic motivation.
- “Members won’t have time for rest.” We respond: Fair workloads consider members’ current energy levels, ensuring desired prosperity without excessive expectations.
Imagine that we are all volunteering to do what is most needed and what we can do best — without being over- or under-worked:
- There would be no unemployment or overload, as we wouldn’t expect more from each other than we could deliver.
- Our work would be genuinely meaningful, freely chosen, and intrinsically motivated, devoid of forced tasks.
- Work would be distributed among all members, fostering a stronger sense of justice and mutual support.
10th Principle: Get What You Need
In order to get what we need and live a good life, we sometimes need more, sometimes less financial resources in different situations in life. In the current system, it is often recommended to start early to accumulate capital for the future in order to be covered for possible crises or retirement. However, this sometimes leads us to accumulate more than we actually need. In such situations, we tend to spend our money on expensive and unnecessary products and services that can waste precious resources and pollute our environment. On the other hand, when we are short of funds, we are often forced to buy cheap and unsustainable products. This can also lead to a waste of resources, as these products are often of lower quality and need to be replaced more frequently.
In One-X, we want every member to have the financial resources they need to live a fulfilling life, no more and no less. If everyone makes their fair work contribution, as described in the ninth principle above, then the community will be able to generate the matching funds, which will then be distributed between all members. The distributed funds are intended for the current needs of each member and, if not used in the short term, expire without possibility of accumulating capital as an individual, no matter what contribution a member makes to the community or where it comes from. Thus, each member can claim for himself what he needs at the moment, without having to accumulate funds.
How have we implemented this principle?
In One-X, all financial resources generated in the community are shared fairly. Each member receives the money they currently need to live well. The institutional entity Balance takes care of the management of the funds and leads to the decision how much money should be used for the expenses of the members as opposed to saving it for investments or as a reserve. After that, Institutional entity Good Life takes care of a fair distribution of these shares, based on individual needs. The distribution follows uniform and transparent logics. In this way, all members can live well in the community without anyone being disadvantaged.
Critics argue::
- “Members will exploit the system, doing little and still receiving money.” We respond: Such behavior would breach trust and lead to exclusion from the community.
- “You can’t accurately measure and compensate for commitment and needs for every member.” We respond: Our experience shows that determination based on trust, transparency, and dialogue is generally perceived as fair enough.
But now imagine that each member gets steadily as much as he actually needs:
- Poverty and social inequality would be resolved within the community, fostering equality and reducing envy and boasting.
- Alms, development aid, taxes, and insurance would become unnecessary, simplifying the social system.
- There would be no need for individual provisions or accumulation; the community would provide for each other.
Shaping the New System Together
In recent years, the value of the five qualities has become increasingly apparent, yet there is still so much more to explore. Can you envision this potential too?
If these topics resonate with you, we invite you to read the other articles in this series (linked below). If you’re uncertain about their relevance, take a moment for personal reflection. Also, feel free to contact us at info@one-x.org and we will respond promptly.
We welcome pioneers who are eager to share their principles, practices, and experiences with us, and work together to develop a new economic system for broader application.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Andrea Demaria & Tobias Bantzhaff
Articles of the series Shaping a more meaningful economy:
- Part 1: Toward a New Vision
- Part 2: Voluntary Engagement
- Part 3: Peer Empowerment
- Part 4: Environmental Respect
- Part 5: Purposeful Investment
- Part 6: Fair Participation (this article)
- Part 7: A Path to the New Economy
- Part 8: Fundamentals of One-X (to be published)