economieswithin

Economieswithin is a concept that refers to the network of economic activity occurring inside a bounded social unit, such as a household, neighborhood, or organization, where value creation, resource allocation, and exchange are governed largely by internal rules, social norms, and non-market arrangements.

It highlights how resources are mobilized and reused within a unit, including informal exchanges, reciprocal labor, time-based currencies, gift relationships, and shared ownership of tools and space. Activities may be financed through internal budgets, in-kind transfers, and mutual aid, rather than through external price mechanisms.

Economieswithin interacts with the broader economy by supplying labor, goods, and services to external markets while drawing resources from them. Proponents argue it can build resilience by reducing exposure to external shocks, fostering social ties, and increasing efficiency through localized knowledge; critics warn that it may reproduce exclusionary practices and obscure power dynamics within a group.

Common forms include time banks, tool libraries, informal credit groups, worker cooperatives, and closed-loop procurement within organizations. Researchers study measurement challenges, such as defining boundaries and valuing non-market transactions, and explore policy implications for social welfare, urban planning, and development.

See also informal economy, social capital, communal economy, and household economics.