Quti

Quti is a term used in a fictional social-economic framework to denote a unit of communal time and cooperative labor. In this concept, one quti represents roughly one hour of organized, voluntary work performed by a group on a shared task or project. The model treats time spent in collaboration as a resource that strengthens social ties and maintains community infrastructure, rather than as a purely market-driven activity.

Etymology and usage ideas vary by context within the fictional setting, but the root qut- is commonly described as meaning “to unite” or “to work together.” In practice, quti sessions are scheduled in public spaces, with participants rotating roles and responsibilities. Participation is recorded in a communal ledger, and successful completion of a quti session can grant access to shared goods or services, rather than monetary compensation.

Economic and social role in the imagined system centers on reciprocity and social capital. Communities use quti to organize tasks that benefit many residents, such as maintenance, food production, or cultural projects. The emphasis is on equal contribution and collective achievement, with mechanisms to ensure inclusivity for those who cannot participate in certain sessions. The model often coexists with a complementary time-based credit system that tracks individuals’ participation and informal reputational standing.

Variants and derivatives include microquti (shorter sessions of about 15 minutes) and megaquti (long, multi-hour sessions involving larger groups). In narrative treatments, quti serves as a lens to explore communal resilience, urban governance, and the valuation of cooperative labor.

See also: time banking, cooperative economics, participatory planning.