Solutions

The Future of Trade: An Open-Sourced Labour Exchange Economy Based on Time.

Imagine a world where your time is the primary currency. Instead of relying on fiat money, you trade your hours of labour directly for goods and services. This concept, often referred to as a time-based economy, has the potential to redefine how we think about value, fairness, and sustainability in our everyday lives.

The Basics of a Time Economy

In this open-sourced labour exchange system, every hour you work earns you a unit of currency, let’s call them “time bucks.” If you work eight hours a day, you’d earn eight time bucks. These bucks can then be used to “purchase” services or labour from others within the community. The central idea is to equalize the value of time, regardless of the type of work performed, fostering mutual respect and cooperation.

This system moves away from monetary disparities and instead focuses on the universal currency that everyone has: time. By doing so, it creates a more equitable and sustainable economy that prioritizes human connection over profit.

How It Works: Examples in Action

1. Childcare for Home Repairs
   • Sarah spends three hours babysitting for her neighbour, Tom. In return, Tom, a skilled handyman, spends three hours fixing Sarah’s leaky faucet and repairing her fence. No cash exchanges hands, but both Sarah and Tom’s needs are met through their contributions of time.
2. Tech Support for Gardening Help
   • Alex, a tech enthusiast, helps Mia set up her home Wi-Fi network and troubleshoot her laptop for two time bucks. Later, Mia, an experienced gardener, spends two hours helping Alex plant a vegetable garden in his backyard. Both benefit by exchanging skills and time directly.
3. Language Lessons for Cooking Classes
   • Maria, fluent in Spanish, teaches John conversational Spanish for an hour. John, a professional chef, teaches Maria how to make her favourite pasta dish during another hour. They both enrich their lives without spending a dime, valuing each other’s expertise equally.

Advantages Over Fiat Currency

1. Equality and Inclusivity
   • A time-based economy levels the playing field by valuing everyone’s time equally. Whether you’re a doctor or a cleaner, an hour of your time holds the same value. This removes the economic hierarchies created by disparities in income and wealth.
2. Enhanced Community Connections
   • By relying on direct exchanges of time and skills, individuals form deeper relationships within their community. This fosters trust, collaboration, and mutual respect, creating a stronger social fabric.
3. Resilience and Sustainability
   • Unlike fiat currencies, which are subject to inflation, market fluctuations, and centralized control, a time-based currency is inherently stable. It also encourages resource sharing and reduces waste, promoting a more sustainable way of living.

Universal Education as a Complement to Time Bucks

A universal education system perfectly complements the principles of a time-based economy by eliminating barriers to learning and fostering equal opportunity. When everyone has free access to education, the competitive notion that a doctor’s time is worth more than a baker’s becomes irrelevant. Instead, individuals can freely choose their passions, knowing that their value in the community is based on their time and not their job title.

By ensuring access to knowledge and skills for all, a time-based economy removes the economic pressure to pursue high-paying careers. This leads to a society where people are empowered to follow vocations they truly love, creating a more diverse and fulfilled workforce. Education becomes a shared resource, enabling collaboration and mutual respect across all professions.

Conclusion

An open-sourced labour exchange economy based on time has the potential to transform how we work, interact, and value one another. By focusing on time—a resource everyone has—we can create a fairer, more connected, and sustainable world. As we face growing economic inequalities, perhaps it’s time to rethink the role of money and embrace a currency that truly reflects the worth of our shared humanity.

 We CAN do better