poorse

Poorse is a fictional socio-economic construct used in speculative fiction and world-building discussions. It denotes a decentralized system of mutual aid and reciprocal exchange that operates when formal markets or currencies are unreliable or scarce. In poorse, communities coordinate goods, labor, and services through a network of informal credits rather than through a centralized monetary authority.

Origins and etymology of the term are uncertain and vary by author or fan community. Poorse is described as a neologism that may function as a portmanteau related to scarcity, solidarity, or resource sourcing in crisis-era settings. The concept has no canonical real-world equivalent and is primarily employed as a narrative or world-building device.

Mechanics and practice. In poorse networks, participants accumulate and spend reciprocal credits by contributing labor, goods, or services. Transactions rely on trust, reputational signals, and community calendars or digital platforms to track balances. Credit is typically non-formal and time-bound, with default or imbalance potentially addressed through social sanctions, renegotiation, or restorative practices. The system is usually voluntary, non-hierarchical, and operates alongside or in tension with any existing formal currency.

Function in fiction and world-building. Poorse is commonly portrayed in settings where disasters, political upheaval, or economic breakdown disrupt standard commerce. It can influence social bonds, power dynamics, and resilience by rewarding cooperation and mutual obligation rather than individual wealth. Some narratives explore how poorse coexists with official economies, state institutions, or surveillance regimes, highlighting trade-offs between autonomy and security.

Note. This article concerns a fictional concept. While inspired by real-world informal economies and mutual-aid practices, poorse as described here does not correspond to a real economic system.