Econ. of Intentional Communities

Jurgen Brauer (brauer@ix.netcom.com)
Thu, 12 Feb 1998 15:08:28 -0800

David and others: I looked at the web-site David listed. I have a
long-standing interest in Amish communities -- which are 'intentional'
of a sort as well. Apart from Amish and Hutterite communities, which
have been around for centuries, I am not aware of any that last more
than a few years before they break apart. I wonder, does anyone know of
serious economic studies of such 'intentional communities'? For example,
to hold property such as land in common requires non-shirking and
enforcement mechanisms. How does this work in specific case studies?
Etc.

Jurgen

David Gillette wrote:
> Last summer I arranged for my introductory economics class of accelerated
> Jr HS students to visit "Sandhill", an "intentional living community" and
> spend an afternoon at what most people would call a "commune." The
> experience was unforgettable, both for them and for myself. We used it as
> a basis for much classroom discussion during the rest of the course, and I
> referred to more than once in the following semester when teaching the same
> course for college students. Sandhill belongs to a "Federation of
> Egalitarian Communities" which even has a web site:
>
> http://www.crl.com/~eastwind/fec.html
>
> So, yes, I do believe that at least to some extent "these views of perfect
> social arrangements" are reflected society today.

-- 
Jurgen Brauer
3309 Ansley Court
Martinez, GA 30907
http://www.aug.edu/~sbajmb/welcome.html