Distributive Enterprise

Introduction

A distributive enterprise is a social enterprise that focuses on open economic development. In particular, it is a transparent enterprise which maintains the open replication of such an enterprise by others at the core of its operational strategy. The goal is to create an economic system that promotes not only production of wealth, but also, its distribution. The goal of Distributive Enterprise is to bring about true 'enlightened self-interest' into the economic playing field - by an a priori assumption that economic self-interest is promoted most deeply when business is done with everybody in mind.

The goal is to address the issue of artificial scarcity and Disparity of Wealth as related both to peoples' lifestyles and to global geopolitics. Another goal is to embody a Higher Purpose in material production. To test the usefulness and purpose of its products, a distributive enterprise dogfoods its own products. Participants in distributive enterprise aim to blend their lifestyle with their work - as an expression of consistency between one's values and one's actions. This leads to a connection of the economy to addressing pressing world issues.

The Distributive Enterprise concept builds upon the notions of appropriate scale proposed by E.F. Schumacher, upon the concept of economic swadeshi proposed by M.K Gandhi - and it is updated by bringing it into the digital age where information can be shared readily. The Distributive Enterprise model is an expression of human-centered economics of collaborative production - where people regain control over 'the machine.'

Open Source Ecology Case

Such an enterprise follows OSE Specifications for Distributive Economics, and focuses on production optimization as its key to economic significance and to scalability. This means that the enterprise, in its essential design, has a mechanisms for continuously optimizing design, documenting its process and results, and training producers for enterprise replication. Factor e Farm is an example of a facility that performs all of these functions. We are currently developing a practical training option - where entrepreneurs-in-training help in production runs in exchange for our training. Our goal is to assist in the global transition beyond artificial material scarcity, such that human cultural and scientific advancement is unleashed within the context of Economy 2.0.

In summary, a Distributive Enterprise

1. Is open source
2. Distributes its business model openly
3. Dogfoods its products
4. Addresses pressing world issues by removing artificial scarcity

Note

Our preferred business model is collaborative development of product design, whereby each participant can gain benefit from such collaboration by engaging in real production. The goal is that we truly remove material constraints from determining the well-being of humans, as production is no longer an issue of control and power.

The simple numbers are to demonstrate clearly that the power of such a distributive enterprise is easily $100k/person/year, whether in Missouri, Brooklyn, or Gabon. We are well on our way to demonstrating this in practice at Factor e Farm.