A “Resource Based Economy” (RBE) is like imagining a big change in the way our world works. Right now, we use money to buy things, and people have jobs to earn that money. But in an RBE, there’s no money, no banks, or even prices for things. Instead, we’d use science and technology to figure out the best ways to produce and distribute stuff.

The concept of a Resource Based Economy (RBE) is most commonly associated with Jacque Fresco, the founder of The Venus Project. Fresco and his partner, Roxanne Meadows, have promoted the idea of an RBE for many years as a solution to societal and environmental issues.

Let’s break it down:

• Resources: These are things like water, food, metals, and energy – basically everything we use to live and make stuff.
• Based: This means the economy is built around these resources, not money.
• Economy: This is how we produce, share, and use things.

In an RBE, everyone would have access to what they need, without having to “pay” for it. Machines and technology would do most of the work, and they’d be used in ways that don’t harm the planet.

For example, if someone needed a pair of shoes, they wouldn’t go buy them. Instead, they’d get shoes made from the best materials that won’t harm the Earth, produced by machines, and given without needing money.

The idea behind an RBE is to make sure everyone has enough and to take care of our planet at the same time. No more rich or poor people, just everyone living together with everything they need. It’s a big idea, and while it sounds great, it would need a lot of changes to how we currently do things.

How does volunteering relate to RBE?

Volunteering and a Resource Based Economy (RBE) share a core value: doing something without expecting money in return.

In both volunteering and an RBE, people work to help others or improve the community, not just to earn money. Volunteering is about giving your time and skills for free to help a cause or people in need. In an RBE, the whole idea is to make and share things based on what’s needed, without using money.

Imagine a world where everyone is taken care of and has what they need. If we live in an RBE and our basic needs are met, people might be more likely to do jobs or tasks because they want to, not because they have to earn money. In this way, a lot of work in an RBE could look like volunteering does today.

Plus, volunteering shows that people can be motivated by things other than money, like wanting to help, feeling good, or being part of a community. This is a big idea in an RBE too: people would do things for the good of everyone, not just for themselves.