Economy
Circular badge depicting the Syndication Bar
The economy of the Microcosm is a semi-decentralised system with a focus on equal exchange and logistical satisfaction. Its sole currency unit is the Syndication Bar (
).
Every citizen of the Microcosm has an account on a public ledger associated with their local Echelon. When a transaction is made, it updates the ledger, which is then verified by the ledger above it, and so on. Should a citizen move to a new location, their account is also transferred to the appropriate local Echelon.
Cryptography is employed to ensure the technical aspects of transactions are legitimate; should any aspect be called into question, a discussion may be opened in the appropriate Echelon, which may then be elevated appropriately. This system ideally allows transactions to be reversed or corrected should an issue arise.
Value
One Bar is equivalent to the "value" of one 1-kilogram bar of mild steel. The unit is measured whole with no subdivisions. Its denominations are 1000 -> 1 (bar tons), and 1000 -> 1 (bar kilotons); bar megatons and subsequent denominations are rarely used in everyday exchange.
The properties of a physical Syndication Bar is defined by the Galactic Standard to be a 0.5% carbon, 1% manganese steel cuboid with a volume of 128cm3, dimensions 4cm × 8cm × 4cm, and a density of 7.9g/cm3. Its ideal hot-rolled Brinell hardness is 160.
Assignment
Monthly assignment of Bars is performed by an algorithm. A base pool is created within the top Echelon whose size is dependent on the total volume of steel created by all recognised fabricators; portions are then divided between members, which are then divided between its members, and so on.
The average monthly wage of unemployed citizens as of ::01860 is 33. They can be used to requisition luxuries like furniture, technology and imported commodities, commission independent workers, or procure materials for craft-work projects.
While most Echelons divide evenly based on size, some may negotiate for additional funds should their members require it. Requests are often made by small groups who may be logistically under-represented, such as fringe colonies who cannot rely on the UMPIRE network for regular supplies.
Transfers of Bars to local industries are assigned to the cluster’s monthly distribution pool to encourage migration and support local workers.
Echelons
Echelons are self-governing bodies that work to consider all voices within them and make informed decisions based on those voices. Each Echelon will typically delegate a member to represent them in a higher Echelon. There are seven main levels: Bottom, Local, Area, Regional, Planetary, System, Cluster, and Top.
Higher Echelons will typically handle requisitions from bottom groups, passing them up the chain to be sent to the appropriate suppliers. A ‘quartermaster’ is sometimes elected alongside the representative for just this purpose, but it may also be delegated to a computer system as is the case with the highest Echelons.
Echelons tend to cooperate with one another towards mutual benefit, as there is little to be gained from not doing so; self-enrichment is available to all through luxury requisitions (supply withstanding), and basic accommodations like a safe and appropriate home to live in, food to eat, and water to drink and wash with are provided as a right.
Even through extreme circumstances like natural disasters where infrastructure and supply chains break down, Echelons will adapt and persevere, working to support one another until normal operations can be restored.
Bottom
Bottom Echelons are typically composed of people who live within close proximity to one another, for example a group who live in the same building or on the same street. They are the most numerous type of Echelon.
Cities alone can be composed from hundreds or thousands of bottom Echelons, which would make large-scale governance incredibly difficult if not for its nested nature.
Local
Local Echelons are composed of representatives from bottom Echelons within a relatively small area; for example, streets which branch off a main road, or clusters of buildings in close proximity to one another.
These small communities mainly manage internal matters, but still hold marked sway in higher Echelons. Some local councils can be ferocious in their defence from incursion, and though rare, it is sometimes considered a systemic weakness.
Area
Area Echelons are composed of representatives from local Echelons within a larger area, for example a city district, a township, or an orbital colony.
The larger coverage means more sweeping decisions can be made, like public policy changes or logistic chain organisation.
Regional
Regional Echelons are composed of representatives from area Echelons within a very large area, for example a city, group of towns, or multiple orbital colonies around the same planet.
Infrastructural decisions are often made by these councils, like construction of new power plants or public transport networks.
Lower Echelons typically negotiate between one another via regional councils for resources, construction rights, and other important commodities.
Planetary
Planetary Echelons are composed of representatives from regional and area Echelons within the sphere of influence of a given planet, from its core to its limit. These councils have dual focus due to the inherent flexible nature of Echelon assignment, as orbital colonies may not be large enough to require a regional council but still require representation.
System
System Echelons are an expanded type of planetary Echelon, composed of representatives from planetary and regional councils within a star system. These councils are often formed in the early years of system inhabitation to adequately represent the colony’s interests in clusters.
System Echelons typically handle resource exploitation efforts and colony coordination.
Cluster
Cluster Echelons are composed of representatives from system councils within a cluster of stars, typically bounded by the hundred-light-year cube grid devised by early explorers for the sorting of chartered star systems, for the sake of convenience. Particularly dense populations may have multiple delegated sub-cluster councils.
Cluster councils manage the needs of many star systems and are often the largest of the Echelons as a result. Clusters may elect multiple representatives for the top Echelon.
Top
The top Echelon has the largest coverage of all councils, composed of representatives from clusters across the Microcosm.
This council is delegated for the distribution of Syndication Tokens among clusters, which is governed by an impartial computer that takes charter data and weights distribution based on perceived need.
The algorithm was developed by the impartial Awakened Committee, formed in ::0327 after the discovery of sentient alien computers; it was adapted from pre-Act logistics algorithms originally intended to organise the extinct Supreme Vellandor Empire’s supply chains, now re-purposed for peaceful civilian operation.
