Architecture Principles
The foundational rules and guidelines that govern all architectural decisions. Principles ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with our mission.
What Are Architecture Principles?
Architecture principles are fundamental guidelines that inform and constrain architectural decisions. They translate our values into actionable rules, ensuring that every framework, policy proposal, and strategic choice aligns with who we are and what we're trying to achieve. Principles should be stable but not immutable—they evolve through our governance process.
Human Agency First Core
Every architectural element must enhance, not diminish, individual human agency and autonomy.
Rationale: Post-labor economics aims to free people from coerced labor, not to create new forms of dependency. Frameworks must empower individuals to make meaningful choices about their lives, work, and participation in society.
Application Examples
Evidence Over Ideology Core
Architectural decisions must be grounded in empirical evidence, research, and real-world data rather than ideological assumptions.
Rationale: The transition to post-labor economics is too important to be driven by wishful thinking. We must be willing to update our frameworks when evidence contradicts our assumptions, and we must clearly distinguish between proven mechanisms and theoretical proposals.
Application Examples
Incremental Transition Strategic
Frameworks must support gradual, phased transitions rather than revolutionary overnight changes.
Rationale: Abrupt economic transitions cause suffering and resistance. Our architecture must provide pathways that allow individuals, organizations, and societies to adapt progressively. This makes adoption politically feasible and minimizes disruption.
Application Examples
Coalition Compatibility Strategic
Architectural elements should be designed to attract support from diverse stakeholders, not alienate potential allies.
Rationale: Transformation at scale requires broad coalitions. Frameworks framed in partisan terms or that benefit only one group will fail. We must find formulations that workers, business owners, policymakers, and researchers can all support—even if for different reasons.
Application Examples
Global Applicability Scope
Frameworks must be adaptable to different cultural, economic, and political contexts worldwide.
Rationale: Automation and AI affect all economies. Our architecture cannot be US-centric or assume Western democratic institutions. Core principles should be universal while allowing local adaptation of specific mechanisms.
Application Examples
Open Architecture Process
All architectural elements must be publicly documented, openly licensed, and subject to community contribution and scrutiny.
Rationale: The future of economics belongs to everyone. Our frameworks should be freely available for adoption, criticism, and improvement. Proprietary control would contradict our values and limit adoption.
Application Examples
Sustainability & Resilience Quality
Frameworks must be economically sustainable, environmentally conscious, and resilient to shocks and disruptions.
Rationale: Post-labor systems must work long-term, not just in ideal conditions. We must design for inflation, recessions, technological disruption, and climate change. Mechanisms that require perpetual growth or ignore environmental limits are not acceptable.
Application Examples
Preserve Meaningful Work Quality
While eliminating obligatory labor, frameworks must protect and enhance opportunities for meaningful, voluntary work and contribution.
Rationale: Work provides more than income—it offers purpose, social connection, and identity. Post-labor economics isn't anti-work; it's anti-coerced-labor. Our architecture must support people who want to work while freeing those who don't.