Shaping a More Meaningful Economy — Part 3
Peer Empowerment
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. Next to our article on Voluntary Engagement we now delve into the quality of Peer Empowerment and the restoration of individual agency.
Making Better Choices
One-X treats individuals as autonomous peers, empowering them to make well-informed decisions and leveraging their unique perspectives to democratically influence the system’s governance at every level. By having unbiased clarity on the alternatives and options of decisions relevant to them, they can autonomously pursue a life that aligns with their personal aspirations. By providing clarity on their needs and electing their trusted representatives to satisfy these, individuals contribute to shaping the overall direction of One-X. Their voice is heard by representatives who have the explicit task to work with their electorate at finding innovative solutions fitting for the needs of all people involved, from the local community to the whole society.
In the current system Information is often strategically crafted to manipulate our responses, news outlets lack objectivity, and product information fuels consumption. Our elected representatives are often swayed by special interests instead of prioritizing the needs of the people. Once elected, there is no effective way to ensure their alignment with the societal needs of the people they represent, in particular across different levels of governance.
Unbiased information empowers individuals to make better choices. By knowing the real consequences of what we consume, we can satisfy our needs while effectively contributing in solving the biggest challenges. By holding representatives responsible for considering our needs, we offer them the basis for finding balanced solutions for the biggest challenges, also at the levels above them.
To ensure the provision of unbiased information within One-X, it is crucial to prioritize the perspective of the information receiver, making their interests the primary focus. Facilitating effective participation among One-X members can be aided by employing straightforward and consistent organizational structures. The leaders of these organizations should prioritize integrating the interests they serve, not their own, and be evaluated accordingly. The following two principles address these specific aspects.
3rd Principle: Share Unbiased Information
To make sound decisions, we require unbiased clarity about the advantages and disadvantages of available alternatives. The quality of our decisions is pivotal to our efficiency and, ultimately, the quality of our lives. However, obtaining useful information is often cumbersome within the current system. For instance, when making purchasing decisions, we are bombarded with advertising that selectively influences us in favor of the seller and critical information is often withheld from the public. Accurately assessing risks when purchasing insurance is a daunting task. Even in elections, obtaining sufficient transparency about candidates is a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
At One-X, our goal is to provide every member with access to unbiased information essential for making informed decisions. We prioritize the interests and needs of consumers over those of providers. Consequently, all relevant information, including potential problems and drawbacks about an organization, a product or service, is transparently disclosed to everyone. Personal information or sensitive data is the only exception. Equipped with this information, consumers can easily search for or compare suitable alternatives, simplifying the decision-making process.
How have we implemented this principle, focusing for example on goods:
In One-X, suppliers provide the institutional entity Market with all relevant information about the characteristics of the goods they wish to sell. The total manufacturing costs, including expected recycling costs, are openly communicated and form the reference price. Based on this information, the institutional entity Market prepares transparent communication for consumers, initially offering the goods at the reference price. Subsequently, the price is adjusted according to supply and demand. The goal is to achieve the highest possible price within a reasonable timeframe. This necessitates that potential buyers can recognize the value of a good, ensuring effective resource allocation. Ultimately, end users determine the actual value of resources and products through their purchasing decisions, on an equal footing with other members.
Critics argue:
- “How should companies plan and manage without price control?” We respond: Companies should focus on quality as the added value for customers, meeting their needs. The institutional entity market facilitates this process.
- “Companies cannot truly know their customers without marketing.” We say: The Market offers comprehensive information about customer buying behavior for both their own and competitors’ products.
Now, imagine if pricing and marketing were driven by maximizing value for consumers instead of maximizing profits for suppliers:
- Advertising would become more informative, targeted, and less prevalent, freeing up significant resources for more meaningful endeavors.
- The Market would transparently showcase the value of products, enabling direct comparison and better choices.
- Products would reach the consumers who would benefit from them the most, leading to increased prosperity.
4th Principle: Organize Consistently
As knowledge grows and the world becomes more complex, we often lack the time to fully grasp aspects that significantly impact our lives. Employment contracts differ across employers, tax systems are riddled with exceptions, social benefits vary across regions, and business terms and conditions are specific to each company. Attempting to understand the consequences of each becomes an overwhelming task.
At One-X, we acknowledge that employing a few consistent structures enhances our understanding of the economy and society. This facilitates navigation and collaboration among our members. We design our multiple structures to be as simple and user-friendly as possible, ensuring their maximum impact. In particular, we employ a fractal-like design for the network of initiatives and members. Small groups of members employ the same structural elements as larger groups, and this pattern continues throughout the entire economic system. This enables easy navigation across all levels, allowing members to focus on their goals rather than the specifics of different structures.
How have we implemented this principle?
In One-X, each initiative and member group functions as a holon — an independent unit and part of a larger unit. Every community collaborates with the four institutional entities of One-X (Identity, Market, Balance, and Good Life, as described in our Fundamentals of One-X article). Together, these institutional entities facilitate effective collaboration within and across units and levels. To support collaboration across multiple levels, the base-level entities share necessary information with higher-level entities, entrusting them with the execution of some of their tasks. This increases efficiency through economies of scale and ensures fairness and comparability across all delegating holons.
Critics argue:
- “Different group sizes require different structures. It’s impractical to make them all the same.” We respond: The same structural elements can have varying characteristics depending on the group’s size.
- “This limits the freedom to create new organizational forms.” We say: If a group requires additional structural elements, they can introduce them, as long as the reference to the institutional entities remains clear.
Now, imagine if it were easy to understand who is responsible for specific concerns within many organizations, and what to expect from them:
- The need for fine print would diminish, making it easier to find solutions based on known and clearly defined foundations.
- Certain services could be efficiently delegated to cross-group functions, in line with the principle of subsidiarity.
- Less time would be spent defining and learning new structures, enabling flexible movement between groups and initiatives.
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 (this article)
- Part 4: Environmental Respect
- Part 5: Purposeful Investment
- Part 6: Fair Participation
- Part 7: A Path to the New Economy
- Part 8: Fundamentals of One-X (to be published