coec:commons_economy

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision		 Previous revision
coec:commons_economy [2026/03/12 20:41] – external edit 127.0.0.1coec:commons_economy [2026/04/02 12:48] (current) – Simon Grant
Line 1: Line 1:
-# Commons economy+This topic is part of [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]]. 
 +====== Commons economy ======
  
  
Line 12: Line 13:
  
  
-## What is a commons economy?+===== What is a commons economy? =====
  
 It’s an economy in which the essentials of life – housing, energy, land, food, water, transport, social care, the means of exchange etc. are owned in common, in communities, rather than by absentee landlords, corporations or the state. Commons have 3 parts: It’s an economy in which the essentials of life – housing, energy, land, food, water, transport, social care, the means of exchange etc. are owned in common, in communities, rather than by absentee landlords, corporations or the state. Commons have 3 parts:
Line 24: Line 25:
 We believe that a combination of the inherent social nature of humans, ancient commons practices, established commons principles and new commons ideas can help build a commons movement to challenge the current economy in a way that nothing else has or can. We believe that a combination of the inherent social nature of humans, ancient commons practices, established commons principles and new commons ideas can help build a commons movement to challenge the current economy in a way that nothing else has or can.
  
-### Elinor Ostrom+==== Elinor Ostrom ====
  
 You may have heard of [Garrett Hardin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_Hardin)'s famous essay, _the Tragedy of the Commons_, in which he claimed that commons will always fail because of incentives for all users of a common resource to take a little more than their fair share until the resource collapses. [Elinor Ostrom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom) pointed out that Hardin was talking about a free-for-all, not a commons - for which she received a Nobel Prize. She shows that communities can develop systems of self-governance to manage resources without the need for top-down government intervention or privatization. You may have heard of [Garrett Hardin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_Hardin)'s famous essay, _the Tragedy of the Commons_, in which he claimed that commons will always fail because of incentives for all users of a common resource to take a little more than their fair share until the resource collapses. [Elinor Ostrom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom) pointed out that Hardin was talking about a free-for-all, not a commons - for which she received a Nobel Prize. She shows that communities can develop systems of self-governance to manage resources without the need for top-down government intervention or privatization.
Line 42: Line 43:
 In _Governing the Commons_ (see further resources), Ostrom outlined principles for successful commons. To summarise: resources are not owned privately, but it's not a free-for-all either - there are boundaries and agreements so that all users (commoners) know what’s expected of them, and what they can expect to receive; commoners make and monitor the agreements themselves – they’re not imposed from above - i.e. not by the state; each local commons can fit into a larger geographical commons, and so on, up to the global scale - a movement. Here's the full list of principles. In _Governing the Commons_ (see further resources), Ostrom outlined principles for successful commons. To summarise: resources are not owned privately, but it's not a free-for-all either - there are boundaries and agreements so that all users (commoners) know what’s expected of them, and what they can expect to receive; commoners make and monitor the agreements themselves – they’re not imposed from above - i.e. not by the state; each local commons can fit into a larger geographical commons, and so on, up to the global scale - a movement. Here's the full list of principles.
  
-### Ostrom’s commons principles+==== Ostrom’s commons principles ====
  
 1. **Clearly defined boundaries:** commoners understand what resources they have responsibility for, and who with. 1. **Clearly defined boundaries:** commoners understand what resources they have responsibility for, and who with.
Line 73: Line 74:
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### New commons ideas+==== New commons ideas ====
  
 There are new tools and ideas that allow us to: There are new tools and ideas that allow us to:
Line 100: Line 101:
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### What’s happening already?+==== What’s happening already? ====
  
 Under feudalism, ‘commoners’ had rights on land owned by the Crown, nobility or the church, to graze animals, collect firewood etc. Ending such rights – by legal acts of [enclosure](https://www.thelandmagazine.org.uk/articles/short-history-enclosure-britain) – was part of the transition to capitalism. An estimated 2 billion people today still depend for at least part of their livelihood on common resources. Under feudalism, ‘commoners’ had rights on land owned by the Crown, nobility or the church, to graze animals, collect firewood etc. Ending such rights – by legal acts of [enclosure](https://www.thelandmagazine.org.uk/articles/short-history-enclosure-britain) – was part of the transition to capitalism. An estimated 2 billion people today still depend for at least part of their livelihood on common resources.
Line 129: Line 130:
  
  
-## What are the benefits of the commons economy?+===== What are the benefits of the commons economy? =====
  
-### Personal+==== Personal ====
  
 Local economies are reoriented towards providing: Local economies are reoriented towards providing:
Line 156: Line 157:
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Decentralising power away from corporations+==== Decentralising power away from corporations ====
  
 Once assets are in the commons, they’re never sold again, so that wealth stays in communities, rather than being extracted by corporations and concentrated. Mutual credit is the exchange system for the commons economy - it’s accounting for who’s done what for whom, rather than money (which is what’s actually extracted from communities). Once assets are in the commons, they’re never sold again, so that wealth stays in communities, rather than being extracted by corporations and concentrated. Mutual credit is the exchange system for the commons economy - it’s accounting for who’s done what for whom, rather than money (which is what’s actually extracted from communities).
Line 162: Line 163:
 By building the commons, we can start to lay the foundations of a new system. It may be the only way we can do that – we can’t vote for it, as the state and corporate sector are so entwined; protest or petitions won’t work for the same reason; there’s not going to be an ‘uprising’, and even if there were, it would be crushed, and even if it succeeded, it would mean a different group in control of centralised power. We need to build something new ourselves, in our communities. In the 19th century, the co-operative and mutual movements came close to building a new system, but co-ops needed to go into debt to obtain infrastructure, and didn’t have strong enough asset locks to prevent corporate buyout. Social connections are paramount in the commons. Attempts to change the system without considering social relations have been disastrous (communism, fascism), and attempts to change social relations without considering the system have been ineffective (hippies, self-help). By building the commons, we can start to lay the foundations of a new system. It may be the only way we can do that – we can’t vote for it, as the state and corporate sector are so entwined; protest or petitions won’t work for the same reason; there’s not going to be an ‘uprising’, and even if there were, it would be crushed, and even if it succeeded, it would mean a different group in control of centralised power. We need to build something new ourselves, in our communities. In the 19th century, the co-operative and mutual movements came close to building a new system, but co-ops needed to go into debt to obtain infrastructure, and didn’t have strong enough asset locks to prevent corporate buyout. Social connections are paramount in the commons. Attempts to change the system without considering social relations have been disastrous (communism, fascism), and attempts to change social relations without considering the system have been ineffective (hippies, self-help).
  
-### Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios+==== Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios ====
  
 'There may be trouble ahead'. We’re going to need to look after each other in communities, by building the commons economy to provide affordable housing, energy and other essentials, and a way to invest our savings in our communities. 'There may be trouble ahead'. We’re going to need to look after each other in communities, by building the commons economy to provide affordable housing, energy and other essentials, and a way to invest our savings in our communities.
Line 174: Line 175:
 Most movements for change don't engage working-class communities - where most people live. Commons is different, because it provides affordability and jobs (management of the commons is via paid steward roles, not volunteer trustees). Most movements for change don't engage working-class communities - where most people live. Commons is different, because it provides affordability and jobs (management of the commons is via paid steward roles, not volunteer trustees).
  
-### Environment+==== Environment ====
  
 Unlike capitalism, a commons economy has short supply chains and no '[growth imperative](/stea/steady-state_economics)' and therefore might just be able to provide the things we need without completely destroying the biosphere (again, unlike capitalism). Decisions can be made to protect nature, that the profit motive overrules in corporations. Unlike capitalism, a commons economy has short supply chains and no '[growth imperative](/stea/steady-state_economics)' and therefore might just be able to provide the things we need without completely destroying the biosphere (again, unlike capitalism). Decisions can be made to protect nature, that the profit motive overrules in corporations.
Line 191: Line 192:
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 If you live in or around Stroud, you can [contact Stroud Commons](https://stroudcommons.org/contact/) if you’d like to get involved – as a volunteer / commons builder, investor, customer or steward (employee to manage / maintain the commons). If you live in or around Stroud, you can [contact Stroud Commons](https://stroudcommons.org/contact/) if you’d like to get involved – as a volunteer / commons builder, investor, customer or steward (employee to manage / maintain the commons).
Line 219: Line 220:
 Subscribe to our newsletter for commons news; comment on the blog, or [send us an article](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/blog-article-social-media-policy/); and of course, please share this page with anyone you think might be interested. We’d like to invite everyone to be a commoner! Subscribe to our newsletter for commons news; comment on the blog, or [send us an article](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/blog-article-social-media-policy/); and of course, please share this page with anyone you think might be interested. We’d like to invite everyone to be a commoner!
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/economy). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - Elinor Ostrom's _[Governing the Commons](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/ostrom_1990.pdf)_ (pdf) - Elinor Ostrom's _[Governing the Commons](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/ostrom_1990.pdf)_ (pdf)
Line 229: Line 234:
  
  
-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [Commoning](comg:commoning) - [Commoning](comg:commoning)
Line 244: Line 249:
 - [Use-credit obligations](ucos:use-credit_obligations) - [Use-credit obligations](ucos:use-credit_obligations)
 - [Credit clearing](crcl:credit_clearing) - [Credit clearing](crcl:credit_clearing)
-- [Wikis](wiki:wikis)+- [Wikis](wiks:wikis)
 - [Credit commons](crco:credit_commons) - [Credit commons](crco:credit_commons)
 - [ROSCAs - rotating savings & credit associations](rosc:roscas) - [ROSCAs - rotating savings & credit associations](rosc:roscas)
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
-{{tag>[economy, commons, society]}} 
  
  • coec/commons_economy.1773348088.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/12 20:41
  • by 127.0.0.1