Redistributive Economy

A Distributive Economy may be contrasted with a re-distributive economy, which is the dominant global model as we find ourselves in currently (2021). Mainstream economics tend to collect revenue (taxes) or amass wealth (billionaires) so that resources can be re-distributed as an afterthought. We believe not so much in re-distribution - but in distribution in the first place. Distibution in the first place can happen by a transition to open source economics - thereby eliminating the various mechanisms of power concentration that constitute structural evil. Such a transfer of wealth from the few to the many is one of the critical unsolved issues of human economic systems, and is one of the outcomes of collaborative design.

It is lame that the current status quo promotes stealing from the rich to give to the poor. [1] says Taxation and income transfers to the poorest segment of society are the most direct way to keep inequality in check and reduce poverty in the short term.

Universal Basic Income is another form of redistribution.

Thus, it is useful to note that OSE's economic development paradigm is not redistributive. It is distributive in the first place: absolute creative economic empowerment for Mutually Assured Abundance via Collaborative Design for a transparent and inclusive economy of abundance. Ie, delivering The Promise of Open Hardware - ending artificial scarcity of material resources.

A mindset of re-distribution is undesirable - in our opinion - because it does not address the creation of disparities - in the first place. From an integrated perspective, humanity should work on upgrading its operating system for how access and opportunity are created - which is the core aim of Open Source Ecology. By unleashing productive potential locally via global cooperation on open source economics - we can eradicate artificial scarcity and Competitive Waste, and create more fulfilled lives consistent with Self-Determination and Economic Freedom.

In practice, we will probably not eliminate the entrenched welfare state overnight - though the decision for how quick this transition takes is completely up to us. The welfare state serves a useful, if inefficient, function. But over the long term, we should upgrade the economic paradigm to addressing inequality and wealth distribution in our economic thinking up front, not as an afterthought, as we transition to a Collaborative Singularity.

Notes

• Mutual aid vs redistributive aid - [2]