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Eight Trends leading to Libertaria
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1. From Property to Ideas
In the old, property-based economy, labor, land and commodities were the most
important assets; in the new, ideas-based economy, people share ideas and that
sharing becomes the basis of their shares in companies. Such ideas-based shares
will become the most important assets of companies. Wealth and prospertity in
a country will hinge on the ability to create and refine ideas.
2. From time-based Labor to Creativity
People will put more of their efforts into the creation and refinement of ideas,
rather than to perform routine-based labor for fixed amounts of time for a fixed
income.
3. From regulated Scarcity to Free Trade
As ideas become the most important component of the economy, countries where the
environment is more attractive for the generation of ideas will flourish.
Instead of restricting trade through regulations and the institution of monopolies,
countries will endeavour to free up trade and encourage optionality.
4. From Profit to Appreciation
Profits will be squeezed as countries worldwide implement competition policies
that avoid monopolies and cartels to dominate markets. Investors will buy shares
that hold the best promise of appreciation, rather than shares that promise high
dividends. Rather than that suppliers will be paid in currency, shareholders in
dividends and workers in salary, such stakeholders will more and more choose to take
stock options; appreciation of shares will be a greater aim for a company than profit.
Increased use of shares instead of money (see 5.) will help assets growth to become
more important than aims for profit and higher dividends.
5. From Money to Shares
People will start trading in company shares, rather than in money (currency).
One will also be able to exchange shares in one company directly against shares
in another company. Investors will be able to change personal details, thus
directly changing ownership, after a self-chosen level of ownership verification.
Prominent shares will be traded online and worldwide, replacing money as the
most common facilitator of trade.
6. From Monopolies to Competition
Suppliers who dominate specific markets will choose to break up into parts that
compete in all areas. The larger a company, the less likely it will be that huge
profits can be made, given increased competition and globalisation. Investors
will aim for longer-term appreciation of shares, and will realize that the
combined value of such parts is more likely to appreciate, than if such parts
remained joined into a single company.
7. From Sales to Promotion
As it will become ever cheaper to supply products and services, suppliers will
attract an ever higher part of their revenues from advertisement and promotion for
third parties. Eventually, everything will typically be supplied for free, while
advertisers and sponsors will have a wide range of opportunities to choose from.
8. From Prohibition to Settlement
Governments and courts will less and less exercise censorship, prohibit a person's
or family's self-chosen lifestyle, or take sides in disputes. Political parties will
progressively choose for decrimalisation and government will eventually stop
exercising all control over society. Parties in a dispute will seek alternative
ways to reach settlements.
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