A world in which every person is living a dignified life...

The gift economy and ‘what does it cost’?

In Anbetracht der vielen Gewalt, die durch die Zwangswirkung des Geldes in unserer Gesellschaft und (meist noch viel stärker) fast auf der ganzen Welt ausgeübt wird, möchte ich auch hier die Prinzipien der Gewaltfreiheit anwenden.

I would like to give my work as a gift to the world so that it can support anyone who wants it. So I would like to tailor my services to people's needs – regardless of their financial circumstances. This approach is very unusual and runs counter to the market economy (where resources only flow where they can be exchanged for other resources/money).

Because it is so unusual, it can often cause discomfort or even mistrust, as we have all been taught that nothing is free. I hope that such reactions will dissipate after reading this and the text below (‘Free’ or needs-based economy?). If not, I would be very grateful for your feedback! :-)

If people are uncomfortable with this approach, I can also offer a self-assessment scale for ‘pricing’.

Although I can now get by on very little money, I naturally also need financial resources to cover my living expenses, because I too have to pay my bills. I, too, live in this economic system and therefore do not simply receive the resources I need to live just because I need them. And it doesn't mean I need to get these resources from those I support. Often those people don't have the financial capacity to support me financially.

In order to meet my needs, therefor I repeatedly ask people who are familiar with my work to support me financially. My goal is to earn at least €600 per month (my minimum subsistence level) and a maximum of €1,000 (which allows me to live well – anything above that I will pass on).

Specifically, I would like to invite people who want to support me and my work to consider two questions for themselves:
  1) How much would you like to give so that I can continue to offer this work?
      Please give only as much as you would like to!
  2) How much are you able to give?
      Please give not more than you can afford!
I invite everyone to give as much as they want and no more than they can afford!

The donations received will be distributed among the work team – not according to the usual criteria (time spent and expertise/scarcity of relevant skills), but according to people's needs. In doing so, we try not to be guided by our fears and worries, but to support each other in addressing the needs behind these fears and worries.

I have great confidence that we have the resources within our team to support each other, to rest in trust, and to bring this work into the world with energy and joy of life.