[ forwarded with permission ]

Eight Trends leading to Libertaria

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.