The BMF Project is a proposed alternative economic system based on the principle of gift exchange that is central to the Burning Man community (BM). This economic system is facilitated by two business ventures that are wholly owned, operated, and governed by the BM community.

The purpose of the project is to provide Black Rock City (BRC) residents an alternative to the current capitalist system.

Capitalist economies extract value and surplus (potential resource exchange value) from products, services, labor, and/or materials supplied by individuals and manipulate the value of these resources using capital (money) to create a false need based on supply that is formulated by the amount of capital that is used to purchase a particular resource (i.e., production and supply are based on what money is used to buy). Additionally, with capitalism, the surplus is placed in the hands of those with capital to purchase and amass large quantities of a given resource with which they can gain more capital when that resources is needed.

Gift economies, however, do not rely on capital so the value of resources are based solely on the need that the community and its individuals have for them and no surplus value of resources remains with the people who provide and exchange them.

This proposed system is designed to simultaneously do away with money thereby keeping the value of products, services, labor and materials based on the needs of the people, allow surplus value to remain with the community, and to utilize the current business structure to build the resources that are owned by the community.

The time has come to live the Burning Man concepts everyday of our lives. Join us for the discussion and learn more about the making of a new world.

Sincerely,

Life