Those following the NEM lifestyle might be interested in this book by Jeremy Rifkin.
The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism.
"Mr. Rifkin believes that the Collaborative Commons is a critical part of a bigger story unfolding around the world that
is going to fundamentally alter our global economy in the first half of the 21st century. He argues that a new economic
system-the Collaborative Commons-is entering on to the world stage. It is the first new economic paradigm to take root
since the advent of capitalism in the early nineteenth century. The meteoric rise of this new economic paradigm is coming
at a time when capitalism is under great scrutiny, with lower growth, rising unemployment and greater inequality.
In his book, Mr. Rifkin describes a transformative new technology revolution-the Internet of Things-that enables billions of
people to not only produce and share their music, videos, news, knowledge, and other virtual goods, but now also green
electricity, 3D printed products, and other physical goods at near zero marginal cost, and for nearly free, on a vast global
Collaborative Commons, bypassing the conventional marketplace. A younger generation is also beginning to share cars,
dwellings, clothes, and countless other items and services at low or near zero marginal cost on the burgeoning Collaborative
Commons, wreaking havoc on traditional industries and in the process, changing the very way we organize economic life."
"In The Zero Marginal Cost Society, New York Times bestselling author Jeremy Rifkin describes how the emerging Internet of
Things is speeding us to an era of nearly free goods and services, precipitating the meteoric rise of a global Collaborative
Commons and the eclipse of capitalism."
http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Marginal-Cost-Society-Collaborative/dp/1137278463/s=books&ie=UTF8&keywords=Zero-Marginal-Cost-Society-CollaborativeFor the promotion of NEM, he is a good nominee to receive a NEM stake.
This seems like a very interesting read, however I would disagree that commons represent a "new economic paradigm". While I agree that commons will most definitely continue to grow and prosper with the rise of the internet and digital decentralization, I would also stand by the premise that commons and capitalism are not mutually exclusive. They actually work together! Free trade / capitalism are only mutually exclusive with force. You can not trade product "freely" if someone is coercing you to trade that product. (obviously) Similarly, commons are mutually exclusive with force. If someone declares that a common property is no longer "common" but private, then he is using force to commit theft against the people who claim to have shared ownership over that property.
Commons and capitalism both excel in different areas in society, and both apply under various economic laws relating to competition. Both aspects of society will compete, and without the use of force the best will excel. I would not be willing to call "commons" a separate paradigm, because both seem to apply to our current "model" called economics. The definition of paradigm being: "model that forms basis of something: an example that serves as a pattern or model for something, especially one that forms the basis of a methodology or theory".
Since both commons, and capitalism oppose force. I see a society coming to fruition where the need for governmental force could be lacking due to the rise of decentralization, crypto currencies, and the internet.
-EFFV
