Non-property System
Encyclopedia
A Non-property system is the name of an economic system
appearing in the futuristic fictional books and short stories by Iain Banks called the Culture series
, in which there is no concept of property
. No individual or group is given superior rights to control any particular resource. The system is maintained by agreement within the society to encourage normative behaviors governing resource creation and distribution, conflict resolution, and support and protection of the elderly, infirm, and children.
The Non-property system, while being incompatible with capitalism
which is dependent on the idea of property
to function, is unlike socialist systems, where there is group ownership by the state or the commune. It is also different from a barter
system, where property rights are central to the idea behind barter and exchange. Under the Non-profit system, there is no property at all, this is most similar to anarcho-communism.
Within the division of economic systems from hands-on (egalitarianism, state controlled) to hands-off (private property, individual freedom), this system has characteristics that appear on both ends of the spectrum. Without property, the ideal of individual freedom is paramount, but coupled with traditions of compassion. The Non-property system also has a the distinct characteristic of complete autonomy of society members to form voluntary groups and determine what gets produced.
Economic system
An economic system is the combination of the various agencies, entities that provide the economic structure that defines the social community. These agencies are joined by lines of trade and exchange along which goods, money etc. are continuously flowing. An example of such a system for a closed...
appearing in the futuristic fictional books and short stories by Iain Banks called the Culture series
The Culture
The Culture is a fictional interstellar anarchist, socialist, and utopian society created by the Scottish writer Iain M. Banks which features in a number of science fiction novels and works of short fiction by him, collectively called the Culture series....
, in which there is no concept of property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
. No individual or group is given superior rights to control any particular resource. The system is maintained by agreement within the society to encourage normative behaviors governing resource creation and distribution, conflict resolution, and support and protection of the elderly, infirm, and children.
The Non-property system, while being incompatible with capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
which is dependent on the idea of property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
to function, is unlike socialist systems, where there is group ownership by the state or the commune. It is also different from a barter
Barter
Barter is a method of exchange by which goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money. It is usually bilateral, but may be multilateral, and usually exists parallel to monetary systems in most developed countries, though to a...
system, where property rights are central to the idea behind barter and exchange. Under the Non-profit system, there is no property at all, this is most similar to anarcho-communism.
Within the division of economic systems from hands-on (egalitarianism, state controlled) to hands-off (private property, individual freedom), this system has characteristics that appear on both ends of the spectrum. Without property, the ideal of individual freedom is paramount, but coupled with traditions of compassion. The Non-property system also has a the distinct characteristic of complete autonomy of society members to form voluntary groups and determine what gets produced.