The foundational currency units in the CCO system, distributed universally regardless of work status. Basic units are pegged 1:1 to the primary currency but restricted to essential expenditures (housing, food, healthcare, education, transportation) and expire at the end of each distribution cycle unless converted through productive activities.
Example:
Maria receives 1,500 basic units monthly. She can use them to pay rent at PTH housing, buy groceries, access healthcare, or pay for community college courses. Any unused units expire monthly unless converted through community work.
A dual-currency economic system that provides universal basic income through restricted 'basic units' while maintaining strong work incentives through a productive conversion system. Named for the octave-like doubling pattern of conversion capacities across advancement levels.
Example:
The Riverside Community implemented CCO, providing every resident with basic units for essentials while creating conversion opportunities through community service, artistic creation, and skill development.
Progressive advancement tiers in the CCO system that determine conversion capacity levels. Each octave level doubles the previous level's conversion capacity (Base_Capacity × 2^n). Advancement is based on consistency of contribution, community engagement, skill development, and long-term commitment to community wellbeing.
Example:
Octave 1 allows 1,000 basic unit conversions monthly, Octave 2 allows 2,000, Octave 3 allows 4,000, etc. Advanced practitioners might reach Octave 6+ with conversion capacities of 32,000+ basic units monthly.
Quality-based conversion multipliers ranging from 1x to 14x+ that determine the value of each converted basic unit. Higher multipliers are earned through exceptional quality, innovation, cultural contribution, and positive community impact. Combined with octave levels, they create the dual-tier incentive system.
Example:
Lisa has a 6x multiplier for her innovative teaching methods and community leadership. When she converts 1,000 basic units through educational work, she receives 6,000 primary currency units.
The mechanism by which community members convert expired basic units into unrestricted primary currency through productive activities. Conversion rates depend on both octave level (capacity) and personal multiplier rates (quality). Activities include essential services, creative work, skill development, community building, and cultural contribution.
Example:
Marcus, at Octave 3 with a 4x multiplier, can convert up to 4,000 basic units monthly by teaching guitar lessons, participating in community gardens, and mentoring youth.
The two-dimensional recognition framework in CCO that combines octave levels (capacity dimension based on consistency) with personal multiplier rates (quality dimension based on excellence). This system eliminates welfare cliffs while providing strong incentives for both sustained participation and exceptional performance.
Example:
Ahmed advances consistently through octave levels via regular community service (capacity), while also earning higher multipliers through innovative urban farming techniques (quality), maximizing both dimensions.
Community-organized groups of artists, creators, and cultural contributors within the CCO system who collaborate on projects, share resources, and collectively advance through octave levels. Creative Collectives receive enhanced recognition and multiplier rates for collaborative artistic and cultural work.
Example:
The Northside Creative Collective includes musicians, visual artists, writers, and craftspeople who collaborate on community festivals, public art installations, and cultural education programs.
Community-owned housing model that creates pathways for collective wealth building while providing stable, affordable housing. Properties are held in public trust and owned collectively by residents through democratic governance structures, with integrated services and CCO payment acceptance.
Example:
Greendale Commons is a 150-unit PTH community where residents pay with basic units, participate in democratic governance, and build collective equity through shared ownership and community enterprises.
The broader institutional framework that underlies both PTH and CCO systems, providing democratic governance structures, collective wealth management, and community asset stewardship. PTF creates the legal and organizational foundation for community-controlled economic development.
Example:
The Central Valley PTF manages 12 PTH communities, 3 community enterprises, renewable energy cooperatives, and local food systems, all governed democratically by resident members.
A concept within the Public Trust Foundation system that measures and distributes value based on land stewardship and productive use. Acre Equity recognizes environmental care, sustainability practices, ecosystem preservation, and community benefit generation from land-based activities.
Example:
The Mountain View PTF calculates Acre Equity based on soil health improvements, carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, and food production, distributing value to steward families accordingly.
Participatory decision-making processes within PTH and CCO communities where residents have direct control over community policies, resource allocation, and development priorities. Democratic governance includes assembly meetings, working groups, consensus-building, and elected representation.
Example:
Riverside PTH holds monthly assemblies where residents vote on budgets, new housing development, community enterprise investments, and policy changes through both direct democracy and elected councils.
A comprehensive digital infrastructure platform designed to enable democratic participation, transparent governance, and community-controlled economic systems. CIP serves as the technological backbone that connects and facilitates CCO, PTH, and other innovative governance frameworks.
Example:
Citizens use CIP to vote on community proposals, manage their CCO basic units and conversions, access PTH housing applications, and participate in SZH regional planning decisions.
The use of digital technologies to enhance democratic participation, including secure online voting, digital assemblies, transparent government data access, and citizen-controlled civic engagement platforms. Distinguished from traditional government websites by enabling true interactive participation rather than just information distribution.
Example:
Through digital democracy tools, residents participate in real-time budget allocation decisions, submit and debate policy proposals, and access complete transparency on all government expenditures and decision-making processes.
A comprehensive framework for organizing communities and regions to optimize social, economic, and environmental outcomes through coordinated planning and resource allocation. SZH balances diverse community needs while maintaining local autonomy and democratic governance through voluntary inter-municipal cooperation.
Example:
The Portland Metro SZH coordinates 15 municipalities for shared transit, renewable energy, affordable housing development, and regional food systems while each community maintains local control.
Different zone types in SZH based on community characteristics and development priorities: Urban Innovation Zones (high-density, technology/culture focus), Suburban Transition Zones (mixed-density, balanced development), Rural Stewardship Zones (low-density, agriculture/conservation), and Special Purpose Zones (unique functions like education or recreation).
Example:
Silicon Valley functions as an Urban Innovation Zone specializing in technology and arts, while Sonoma County operates as a Rural Stewardship Zone focused on sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.
Economic situations where earning additional income results in a net loss of total resources due to the sudden loss of government benefits. This creates effective marginal tax rates over 100%, discouraging work and trapping people in poverty. CCO eliminates welfare cliffs by providing universal basic units without means-testing or benefit reduction.
Example:
In traditional systems, Sarah earning an extra $100 might lose $150 in benefits. In CCO, Sarah keeps her basic units plus converts additional units through increased work, always improving her total income.
Economic frameworks designed for conditions where basic necessities are abundant enough to provide for everyone's fundamental needs. Generally refers to eliminating "artificial scarcity" (vacant homes amid homelessness) while recognizing that some scarcity will remain (unique items, expertise, experiences). CCO and PTH create transition mechanisms toward post-scarcity conditions.
Example:
While AI and automation reduce natural scarcity in production, CCO ensures everyone has basic security while maintaining incentives for innovation and cultural creation that remain inherently limited.
An economic framework using two complementary currencies: restricted basic units for essential needs (housing, food, healthcare, education) and unrestricted primary currency for all other purchases. This design mitigates inflationary pressure while ensuring basic security and maintaining economic incentives.
Example:
Citizens receive basic units for essentials automatically, while earning primary currency through work, entrepreneurship, and creative activities—allowing both security and unlimited economic opportunity.
Economic or social frameworks that reward individuals based on their contributions, achievements, and positive impact rather than need alone. In CCO, merit recognition occurs through octave advancement and multiplier rates while maintaining universal basic support, creating incentives for excellence without eliminating basic security.
Example:
Dr. Kim's groundbreaking medical research earns her a 12x multiplier and Octave 7 status, significantly increasing her conversion capacity while all community members still receive basic units regardless of their contribution level.
The recognition and economic incorporation of artistic, creative, and cultural contributions within the CCO system. Unlike traditional economies that often undervalue cultural work, CCO explicitly recognizes artistic creation, cultural preservation, and creative innovation as economically valuable community contributions worthy of high multiplier rates.
Example:
Maya's murals, poetry workshops, and cultural festivals earn her recognition as essential community infrastructure, qualifying for advanced octave levels and high multiplier rates comparable to traditional professions.
The process by which PTH communities create shared prosperity through collective ownership, democratic decision-making, and community enterprises. Unlike individual wealth accumulation, collective wealth building benefits all community members while providing individual security and opportunity for advancement through community success.
Example:
Sunset Gardens PTH operates a community kitchen, solar energy cooperative, and organic farm, with profits distributed to residents while building collective assets that reduce living costs for everyone.
A governance philosophy that combines merit-based advancement and recognition with universal compassionate support for all community members. Also known as "Compassionism," this approach ensures everyone's basic needs are met unconditionally while creating pathways for individuals to earn increased recognition and resources through positive contributions.
Example:
In a Compassionate Meritocracy, both the Nobel Prize winner and the disabled elder receive full support for their basic needs, while the researcher additionally receives enhanced conversion opportunities reflecting their specialized contributions.
Example:
The Portland Metro SZH coordinates 15 municipalities for shared transit, renewable energy, affordable housing development, and regional food systems while each community maintains local control.