The Equanomics Manifesto

A Defining Moment for Humanity

It’s time to take action – now. Your job is being automated, your industry transformed by algorithms and robots. The world stands at a crossroads: do you want to be a human living off some government subsidy, or do you want to be a creator in the new world? This manifesto lays out a vision for Equanomics – an economic paradigm that is visionary, practical, and strategic in ensuring technology works for everyone. We address those being displaced by automation and those inventing the new jobs alike. Our message is clear: we must act decisively to turn the AI revolution into an opportunity for all to thrive, not just a few. In the pages that follow, we chart the urgent challenges, the inspiring possibilities, and a plan for equitable economics that empowers every person to achieve their full potential.

The Rising Tide of Automation

Automation is not a distant threat – it’s here. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and software are rapidly transforming work across industries. Recent analyses estimate that hundreds of millions of jobs worldwide are at risk of displacement this decade. A McKinsey study projects that by 2030, as many as 400 to 800 million individuals could be displaced by automation, requiring new employment. That is roughly one-fifth of the global workforce. Goldman Sachs economists likewise warn that around 300 million jobs (about 9% of the world’s jobs) could be lost to AI automation in the coming years. Even in the near term, up to 30% of tasksin the U.S. economy might be automated by 2030, a trend now acceleratedby recent breakthroughs in generative AI.

Such numbers are staggering, but they’re more than statistics – they represent people. They represent factory workers replaced by robots, office assistants replaced by software, drivers replaced by self-driving vehicles, and even professionals like paralegals and accountants seeing parts of their jobs done by AI. Indeed, technologies exist today to automate at least one-third of tasks in about 60% of occupations, implying significant changes in how almost all work is done. Entire categories of work once considered stable are now vulnerable: data processing, routine manufacturing, customer service, basic coding, content writing – all can be handled, at least in part, by intelligent machines. Few occupations will be untouched by this wave.

Crucially, very few jobs will vanish overnight. Only around 5% of occupations can be fully automated with current tech. However, most jobs will be profoundly redefined, with machines taking over many repetitive tasks. The workplace transformation will be substantial and unavoidable. For workers, this means disruption: new skills to learn, new roles to adapt to, or even entirely new careers to embark upon. McKinsey’s key finding is that while there may be enough new work created to offset these losses, the transitions ahead will be challenging – potentially exceeding the scale of shifts we saw during the Industrial Revolution. In other words, humanity has been through economic revolutions before, but this one could prove even more tumultuous in the short term.

Displacement: The Human Cost

Behind each “job lost to automation” is a human being – someone with bills to pay, a family to support, ambitions, and anxieties. For these individuals, the rise of automation brings uncertainty and fear. Surveys show that roughly 30% of workers fear their job will be replaced by AI or new technology by the mid-2020s, a fear that is especially pronounced among younger workers. Shockingly, a recent global analysis found that already 14% of workers have experienced job displacement due to AI – meaning one in seven workers has lost a job because a machine or algorithm can do it instead. These figures drive home a reality: millions are already facing the turmoil of redundancy, and many more can see the writing on the wall.

The impact is not evenly distributed. Those in lower-wage, lower-skill jobs are the most vulnerable. In the United States, workers in jobs earning under $30k/year are up to 14 times more likely to need to change occupationsby 2030 than those in the highest-wage jobs, largely due to automation pressures. Roles that involve routine, repetitive tasks – whether physical or cognitive – are at highest risk. For example, data entry clerks, secretaries, and accounting clerks are among professions projected to shrink the most; more than 7.5 million data entry jobs could vanish by 2027 as AI takes over. In manufacturing, an estimated 2 million jobs could be replaced by automation tools (like robots) by 2025. And it’s not just blue-collar roles: white-collar and service jobs are on the line too. Office support staff, cashiers, customer service agents, basic content writers – all face declining demand as algorithms handle their former duties.

For those caught in this wave of displacement, the personal toll is severe. Unemployment or underemployment can be devastating to one’s identity and well-being. It’s not merely about lost income; it’s about purpose. Work is more than a paycheck – for many, it’s a source of pride, routine, social connection, and meaning. When that is stripped away, people often experience anxiety, depression, or a sense of purposelessness. If we, as a society, do nothing, we risk creating a permanent class of dislocated individuals: people who feel left behind by progress, alienated and resentful. The social fabric frays under such strain. History provides cautionary talesof what happens when economic transitions are mismanaged – inequality spikes, social unrest brews, and extremist movements find fertile ground. As one observer starkly put it, if the beneficiaries of automation simply tell the displaced to “eat cake,” they should expect a violent backlash. We cannot afford to ignore the human cost of this transition.

The New Creators and Opportunities Ahead

Amid this disruption, it’s important to recognize that automation is not only a destroyer of jobs – it is also a creator of opportunities. Every technological revolution has ultimately led to new kinds of work and often more jobs overall, though not without painful transitions. This one is no different: even as AI and robots displace some roles, they will create new roles and industries we can barely imagine today. The World Economic Forum projects that by 2025, while 75 million jobs may be eliminated by automation, 133 million new jobs will emerge, resulting in a net gain of millions of jobs globally. McKinsey likewise estimates that about 8–9% of labor demand in 2030 will be in occupations that didn’t exist before – entirely new job categories born from technological progress.

Who will invent these jobs? Innovators, entrepreneurs, dreamers – people like you, who refuse to accept that everything meaningful has already been built. Already we see the seeds of the new economy taking root. Green energy technicians, AI ethicists, robotic maintenance specialists, app developers, data scientists, cybersecurity analysts, telemedicine doctors, drone operators, virtual reality experience designers – the list grows by the day. Many of these roles barely existed a decade ago. According to McKinsey, jobs related to developing and deploying new technologies could increase dramatically; tech spending is projected to rise over 50% by 2030, potentially creating 20–50 million new high-tech jobs globally. Similarly, the integration of AI into industries is spawning demand for roles like AI trainers, data analysts, human-machine team managers, and AI safety or ethics specialists. These are jobs of the future that emphasize uniquely human strengths: creativity, complex problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and ethical judgment.

It’s not just in tech that opportunity lies. As automation raises productivity, society will have more resources to invest in areas that machines cannotreplace. Consider fields that require compassion, creativity, and human touch: healthcare, education, elderly care, arts and entertainment, entrepreneurship, scientific research. An aging global population, for instance, is driving huge demand for healthcare workers – tens of millions of new healthcare jobs could be created worldwide by 2030 to care for the elderly. Likewise, rising incomes and aspirations in emerging economies fuel demand for creative goods, tourism, education, and personalized experiences – sectors where human ingenuity shines. In short, the future isn’t only robots and code; it can be profoundly human-centric, if we make it so.

For those at the cutting edge – the inventors of new jobs and technologies – this moment is your call to greatness. You are the architects of tomorrow’s economy. With your innovations, you have the power to not only create personal wealth or corporate profits, but to reshape society for the better. Every new AI tool, every startup, every breakthrough can be aimed at amplifying human potential rather than marginalizing it. But with this power comes responsibility. The choices innovators make today – what problems you choose to solve, who you include or exclude, how you share the gains – will determine whether we get a future of shared prosperity or one of bitter division. The Equanomics Manifesto appeals directly to you: build with humanity in mind. Invent new jobs that regular people can perform and find fulfillment in. Design technology that cooperates with humans instead of rendering them obsolete. Mentor and employ those from disrupted industries. In short, be creators not just of new technology, but of new opportunities.

Why We Must Act Now

Change is coming faster than many realize. The timeline for action is not “someday” – it’s now. As of 2025, we are already seeing “gradually, then suddenly” dynamics in automation adoption. During the COVID-19 pandemic, companies accelerated their use of automation to cope with lockdowns and labor shortages. More recently, the explosive advances in AI – exemplified by large language models like ChatGPT – have dramatically broadened the scope of tasks that can be automated, almost overnight. In 2023, a survey found nearly half of U.S. companies had adopted ChatGPT, and among those, 48% were already replacing workers with AI tools. That means roughly one in four companies in the survey cut jobs due to a single new AI application within months of its release. This gives a glimpse of how rapid and disruptive AI’s uptake can be.

Meanwhile, business leaders are bracing for more change. In a recent global CEO poll, 75% of CEOs said generative AI will significantly change their business within just three years, and the majority are planning for workforce impacts including major upskilling efforts. Over 80% of employers told researchers that AI will impact at least 10% of the tasks in most jobs across the economy. In other words, practically no profession is immune from adjustment. The very nature of work is being reinvented as we speak. As McKinsey observes, “the future of work is already here, and it’s moving fast.” We’ve seen a remarkable increase in job switching and career pivots in the last few years, and the pace of occupational shifts by 2030 could be 25% higher than previously projected due to the acceleration of automation.

This urgency leaves no room for complacency. If we simply “wait and see,” the outcome will be decided for us – and likely not in the favor of the common person. Without proactive measures, the default path leads to a polarized society: a tech-savvy elite reaps most of the gains while many others struggle with precarious work or permanent unemployment. Economic inequality, already at troubling levels, could skyrocket as AI boosts productivity (and profits) for those who own it, but displaces those who don’t. Analysts warn that AI could widen the wealth gap, as workers with AI-related skills command higher wages and those without such skills fall behind. Imagine a world where a small group of tech companies and investors capture the billions in value generated by AI, while millions of dislocated workers depend on meager government stipends. That is a recipe for social unrest and a loss of human dignity. We must intervene in this trajectory now to bend the arc toward justice.

Encouragingly, acting now gives us a chance not just to avert disaster, but to create a better world than we had before. The same forces that make this revolution dangerous also make it ripe with possibility. Never before have we had such productive capacity – AI and automation promise abundantfood, goods, and services with far less human toil. This opens the door to solving age-old problems like hunger, drudgery, and scarcity of essentials. It also presents a fork in the road regarding work and purpose, which a forward-looking commentator summarized plainly: Will people be left destitute as machines take over, or will they be empowered to enjoy leisure and live life on their own terms?. In the positive scenario, it’s not that people stop contributing – it’s that they have the freedom to choose how they contribute, freed from the compulsion of taking any job just to survive. They could pursue creative passions, start businesses, spend time with family, volunteer, learn new skills – whatever brings them joy and fulfillment – with less financial stress. Achieving that scenario requires intentional action today: redesigning our economic systems to share the immense bounty that AI will produce, rather than letting it concentrate in a few hands.

In short, we must act now for two overarching reasons: to prevent catastrophe and to unlock utopia. The costs of inaction are simply too high – mass unemployment, mental health crises, deepening inequality, and even the risk of societal collapse. By contrast, the benefits of bold action are tantalizing – a world where prosperity is abundant and shared, and where every individual has the opportunity to live a life of purpose. This manifesto is our rallying cry to ensure we choose the latter path.

Equanomics: A Vision for an Inclusive Future

What is Equanomics? It is our proposed vision for the next economy – one rooted in equality, opportunity, and human-centric values. The word suggests “equal economics,” and that captures the heart of it: an economy where technology’s gains are distributed equitably, and every person is empowered to participate and flourish. Equanomics is about aligning the AI revolution with the timeless principles of human dignity and fairness. We refuse to accept that automation inevitably means a few winners and many losers. Instead, we assert that with conscious design, automation can be a rising tide that lifts all boats.

Imagine a future a decade or two from now, under Equanomics: Automation has taken over the mindless and backbreaking tasks – the assembly lines run largely with robots, the dangerous mining and monotonous paperwork handled by machines. But rather than rendering people idle and irrelevant, this has liberated people to focus on what truly matters. Society provides for everyone’s basic needs as a baseline – no one starves or goes homeless in the streets while AI churns out wealth. Free from the anxiety of mere survival, people are encouraged to explore their talents and passions. A former truck driver, displaced by self-driving trucks, receives support to train as a solar panel installer, finding pride in contributing to sustainable energy. A laid-off call center worker goes back to school, aided by online AI tutors, and becomes a graphic designer selling original creations to a global market. A young person who might have taken an uninspiring entry-level office job now harnesses AI tools to launch a small business marketing handmade crafts, reaching customers worldwide. Work, in this future, is not something you have to do to earn a livelihood – it’s something you wantto do to earn fulfillment.

At the core of Equanomics is a redefinition of success. Today’s economic systems often prioritize GDP growth, corporate profits, and productivity. In an Equanomic system, we measure progress by human outcomes: how many people have access to the resources they need to thrive, how many are pursuing education and creative endeavors, how many feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction in their lives. In short, we measure how many people are reaching their potential. This echoes the highest ideal in psychology – what Abraham Maslow called self-actualization. Self-actualization is the full realization of one’s talents and potential, the pursuit of personal growth, creativity, and inner fulfillment. It sits at the very top of Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs. Yet, in our current society, few ever get the chance to truly focus on self-actualization; most are too busy scrambling to meet lower-level needs like paying rent or securing healthcare. Equanomics holds self-actualization as a central goal for society. We believe that the fruits of technology should be used to give everyone the time, security, and support needed to climb to that pinnacle of Maslow’s pyramid.

This vision is bold, even utopian – and that is by design. We need a positive North Star to guide our actions amid so much uncertainty. Equanomics is not about some naïve perfect world; it’s about having a clear direction to strive towards, rather than drifting aimlessly into the future. It tells us what kind of economy we want: one where no one is left behind and everyone has the chance to become the best version of themselves. It is both practical and aspirational. Practical, because it acknowledges we must put concrete systems in place to share wealth and provide education; aspirational, because it centers human happiness and purpose as key outcomes.

Crucially, Equanomics doesn’t mean everyone will or should live the same life or achieve the same outcomes. It means the opportunity and support to achieve one’s potential is available to all – an equality of real opportunity, not of mindless uniformity. It also doesn’t mean an end to work or ambition. On the contrary, in an Equanomic world people may work just as hard – but they’ll be working on things they care about, things that utilize their creativity, empathy, and passion. There will still be entrepreneurs and innovators, but their innovations will be guided by an ethical commitment to uplifting their communities. There will still be competition, but it will be balanced with collaboration and mutual aid, recognizing that we all do better when everyone does better.

To some, this might sound like a lofty dream. But consider the alternative: a society where millions are permanently jobless and demoralized while a tiny elite thrives – that is a dystopian scenario we must avoid. In light of that, the vision of Equanomics is not only desirable but necessary. And importantly, it is achievable. The wealth and technological capability exists to realize this future – the question is whether we have the collective will to restructure our policies and priorities accordingly. The remainder of this manifesto lays out how we can begin to build Equanomics through specific principles and actions.

From Basic Needs to Self-Actualization

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs teaches us that humans must satisfy basic needs (like food, safety, belonging, esteem) before they can focus on self-actualization – the fulfillment of one’s unique potential. In modern societies, traditionally a job has been the vehicle by which people secure those lower-level needs. Your job gives you income (to buy food, shelter), status, social ties, and a sense of accomplishment. But what happens when jobs as we know them become scarce? We must ensure people’s basic needs are met in new ways, so that each individual can climb the ladder toward self-actualization. Equanomics provides a path for this progression, something that has been sorely lacking. As a friend of this movement aptly noted, the classic model of Maslow doesn’t show us how to reach the top – how to actually attain self-actualization. We aim to build that missing staircase.

First, the foundation: No one can pursue higher aspirations if they are hungry, homeless, or chronically insecure. Thus, a cornerstone of equanomic policy is to guarantee the basics of life for all. This could take the form of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) or similar safety net, ensuring every person has food on the table and a roof overhead regardless of employment status. UBI has been widely proposed as a solution to automation-induced job loss, and it indeed could provide breathing roomduring transitions. We recognize, however, that a government stipend alone is not a panacea – money addresses poverty, but not purpose. To truly help people move up Maslow’s hierarchy, material support must be paired with guidance, education, and opportunities for meaningful engagement. In other words, we see UBI or any “government subsidy” not as an endgame, but as a starting platform. It prevents destitution (which is non-negotiable in a civilized society) and buys people the time to seek their calling. But we don’t want humans to live idle, purposeless lives on a stipend – we want them to strive, create, and achieve, with their basic needs guaranteed as a right.

Next, belonging and esteem – these psychological needs are often met through work and community. In an Equanomic world, even if one’s traditional “job” is automated, one should never lose the sense of belonging to a community or the chance to earn esteem. This means fostering new forms of community involvement and recognition. Imagine local innovation hubs where displaced workers come together to learn new skills and collaborate on projects – they form teams, solve local problems, start cooperatives or small businesses. They support each other emotionally and technically. Communities could establish mentorship programs pairing seasoned professionals (whose old roles might be fading) with young people entering new fields – turning loss into an opportunity to teach and guide. Societal esteem can come not only from one’s job title, but from one’s contributions to art, knowledge, family, or volunteer work. We must broaden our cultural definition of “valuable work” to include caregiving, creative pursuits, and community service – roles that AI cannot replace and which deeply fulfill human social needs.

Finally, self-actualization: the summit where one becomes fully oneself, expressing one’s talents in their purest form. Equanomics explicitly makes this a societal aim. The idea is that by meeting the lower needs in new ways (basic income, universal healthcare, free education, etc.), we free people to pursue self-actualization systematically. This might involve a combination of lifelong learning, personal development plans, and platforms to facilitate goal achievement. It’s here that technology can be a powerful ally. The same AI technologies displacing old jobs can be repurposed to coach and empower individuals on their journey upward. For example, AI-driven personal tutors and career coaches can be made available to everyone, rich or poor, helping individuals identify their strengths, set goals, and acquire the skills to reach them. Virtual mentors (AI avatars trained on the wisdom of great creators and leaders) could be at one’s side 24/7, offering advice, encouragement, and feedback as one undertakes new challenges. In short, we harness AI as a personal catalyst for growth.

Consider the profound difference this could make: Traditionally, only the fortunate or wealthy might have access to life coaches, top-tier education, extensive professional networks – the tools that help a person flourish. Equanomics democratizes those tools. When everyone has a personal AI mentor and access to continuous education, self-actualization stops being a privilege of the few. It becomes an attainable reality for the many. And the benefits are not just individual; a society of self-actualized individuals would be unimaginably dynamic, creative, and resilient. People living with purpose and self-knowledge are happier and mentally healthier – research shows that having a strong sense of purpose is associated with lower stress, less depression, and better overall mental well-being. Conversely, lacking purpose or direction is strongly linked to anxiety and depression, especially in young adults. By guiding citizens toward purposeful lives, we improve public health and social stability. In essence, self-actualization could become a new standard metric for societal success. We can envision national well-being indices that track not just economic output, but how many citizens report being engaged in work or activities that use their talents fully and align with their values – a “self-actualization index”. Equanomics strives for a future where the economy is not just a system of production and consumption, but a framework for human growth and fulfillment.

Principles of Equanomics

Let’s break down the guiding principles of Equanomics in concrete terms. These are the pillars on which this new paradigm stands:

• Equitable Distribution of AI’s Benefits: The wealth generated by automation and AI must be shared broadly across society, not hoarded by a tiny minority. This might involve novel mechanisms like taxing the productivity of AI systems (since AI doesn’t earn wages to tax) and using those funds to support social programs. The principle is simple – if machines are doing a larger portion of the work, then the fruits of that work should flow to all people, whose ancestors built society and whose data often powers these AI in the first place. Equanomics rejects extreme inequality; it aims for a healthy middle class and safety nets so that no one is left destitute in the age of abundance.

• Lifelong Learning and Reskilling for All: Education can no longer be front-loaded in the first 20 years of life. In a fast-changing world, continuous upskilling is a necessity. We embrace a revolution in education and training. This means massive investments in affordable (or free) online courses, vocational training programs, coding bootcamps, maker spaces, and more, open to people of all ages. The World Economic Forum estimates that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 due to the double disruption of AI and economic change. Equanomics treats access to training as a fundamental right. Employers, governments, and educational institutions must collaborate to make learning opportunities ubiquitous. Just as public schooling was a cornerstone of the industrial age, public re-skilling and up-skilling initiatives are the cornerstone of the AI age. No displaced worker should feel they have nowhere to go; a new skill or career path should always be within reach, with guidance provided.

• Empowering Creators and Entrepreneurs: In the new economy, we are all creators. Equanomics encourages entrepreneurial ventures, artistic endeavors, and innovation at every level. This means reducing barriers to starting a business or launching a project – think micro-grants, incubators in every community, and platforms to connect innovators with resources. The goal is a thriving ecosystem of small businesses, cooperatives, and creative enterprises that provide both employment and a sense of mission. People inventing new jobs – whether tech startup founders or local problem-solvers – are the engine of progress. We urge these pioneers to invent with equity in mind: create jobs that can be filled by those with retraining, and design products that solve real human problems (from climate change to healthcare to education). In return, society will celebrate and support its innovators, because their success benefits everyone when done ethically.

• Valuing Human-Centric Work: Equanomics elevates types of work that are inherently human – caring for others, building relationships, creative expression, and community development. Even as AI handles more “production,” we can expand the definition of productive work to include roles like mentor, community organizer, artist, or caregiver. For example, a parent who leaves the workforce to raise children or a person who cares for an elderly neighbor are doing crucial work for society – under Equanomic values, they would be respected and supported (possibly even with stipends or credits) rather than marginalized. By recognizing and rewarding empathy, creativity, and altruism, we ensure those qualities flourish. Not everything of value can be measured in dollars – but in Equanomics, if it’s valuable to humanity, we find a way to integrate it into the economy.

• Inclusive Innovation: This principle calls on the tech industry and innovators to bring everyone to the table. It means diversifying who gets to invent and lead – more women, more people of color, more folks from formerly industrial towns, more non-college-educated voices in tech. It also means designing technology for accessibility and inclusion. AI systems should be developed to assist people of varying skill levels, not just experts. Tech companies should engage with communities likely to be affected by their innovations, beforedisruption hits, to co-create solutions. No group should feel alienated from the future; instead, all should feel a sense of ownership over technology. Inclusivity also has a geographic dimension: we support the spread of tech jobs and digital infrastructure beyond the usual urban hubs into smaller cities and rural areas, bridging the urban-rural divide that automation could worsen if unchecked.

• Social Safety Nets for Transition Periods: Even with the best training and intentions, transitions take time. A factory might close, and it could be months or a few years before a laid-off worker finds a solid footing in a new career. Equanomics insists on robust safety nets to cushion these blows. This includes unemployment benefits that are generous and easy to access, psychological support (career counseling, therapy) for those in transition, and community programs to keep people engaged (like paid public service opportunities while between jobs). Moreover, healthcare should not be tied to employment – losing your job should not mean losing your doctor. By decoupling basic benefits from the job, we remove the terror of job loss. People will be more willing to pursue training or new opportunities if they aren’t afraid that their family will suffer in the interim. A dynamic, flexible economy demands equally flexible support systems.

• Collaborative Problem-Solving (Crowdsourcing Innovation): No single entity – not the government, not corporations, not NGOs – has all the answers for the challenges ahead. Equanomics embraces the ethos of crowdsourcing and collective intelligence. We propose platforms where communities can come together to brainstorm and implement solutions, whether it’s local job creation ideas or global challenges. Crowdsourced planning means drawing on the wisdom of the crowd to, say, repurpose an abandoned mall into a community center and startup incubator, or to share successful retraining stories so they can be replicated. With modern communication tools, we can involve citizens directly in economic planning – making it more democratic and bottom-up. Everyone should have a voice in shaping our shared future, especially those most affected by automation. By pooling our diverse perspectives, we’ll arrive at more creative and widely accepted solutions.

• Ethical Use of Technology: Last but not least, Equanomics demands a strong ethical framework guiding AI and automation. We must ensure these technologies are used to enhance human welfare, not undermine it. This means being vigilant about things like data privacy, algorithmic bias (so AI doesn’t entrench discrimination), and AI safety. It also means rejecting uses of AI that disempower people – for instance, mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons – as incompatible with an equitable society. Instead, prioritize AI-for-good: systems that help diagnose diseases, personalize education, tackle climate modeling, and so on. Part of ethical tech is also transparency and accountability: workers should have a say in how AI is implemented in their workplace, and citizens should have a say in how it’s governed in society. Technology must remain a tool of the people, not an opaque force that acts on its own logic. Equanomics will support frameworks (like new laws or industry norms) that ensure AI and automation are aligned with the public interest at all times.

These principles form the scaffolding of the Equanomic future. They are ambitious, yes, but each is grounded in real ideas already being debated and piloted around the world. We cite them here not as abstract ideals, but as actionable pillars. In the next sections, we turn to how to implement these ideas, focusing on the roles different stakeholders – governments, businesses, communities, and individuals – must play.

Equanomics in Action: Policies and Strategies

How do we turn these principles into reality? It will take a concerted effort on multiple fronts: policy changes, corporate responsibility, community initiatives, and individual action. Here we outline strategic steps in each domain:

1. Government Policy – “Public Equanomics”: Governments at all levels (national, state, local) are crucial enablers of an Equanomic economy. Key policy actions include:

• Implement Universal Basic Income or Similar Programs: Pilot and roll out UBI to guarantee a baseline income for all adults. This provides immediate security as jobs shift. Funding could come from taxing AI and robots – for example, a levy on companies’ savings from automation, as has been suggested by forward-thinking economists. By taxing the “work” done by machines, society can reclaim some wealth to support humans. Other funding ideas include a data dividend (paying people for the data that trains AI), wealth taxes on the biggest AI profiteers, or carbon taxes (as automation and climate are both seismic shifts requiring social adaptation). The UBI doesn’t have to be extremely high; even a modest stipend can hugely alleviate poverty and give people room to breathe and plan their next move.

• Massive Investment in Education and Training: Treat the reskilling imperative with the urgency of a national defense campaign. This means heavily subsidizing vocational training, STEM education, and apprenticeships. Create “Education Accounts” for every citizen that they can draw on to pay for classes or certifications throughout their life – effectively, lifelong learning scholarships. Given the WEF’s projection that a billion people worldwide need to be reskilled by 2030, international cooperation may be needed as well. Governments can share best practices and even resources to help each other’s populations retrain. Public-private partnerships can be formed where tech firms help design curricula for the skills they need, while government provides grants for trainees. Importantly, make these programs accessible – if you’re a 50-year-old former coal miner or a 30-year-old single parent whose job was automated, you should find doors open, not closed, to re-entering education.

• Incentivize Job Creation in Emerging Sectors: Use policy tools (grants, tax breaks, R&D funding) to encourage growth in fields that promise good jobs for the future – renewable energy, healthcare, infrastructure, education, and research. For instance, a government could subsidize the salary of an ex-trucker while she trains to become a wind turbine technician, effectively paying part of her wage for the first year an energy company hires her. Investments in infrastructure (bridges, smart grids, public transit) and climate adaptation can create millions of jobs, and these are areas unlikely to be fully automated soon due to their complexity and scale. Steering the economy toward these opportunities ensures that even as we lose some jobs, we gain others in return.

• Strengthen the Social Safety Net: Beyond UBI, make sure healthcare, childcare, and housing support are robust. Offering subsidized childcare and eldercare, for instance, not only creates jobs in care work but also frees more people to pursue training or new jobs. During disruptive periods, things like rental assistance or loan forgiveness can prevent personal financial crises. The idea is to prevent any individual or family from free-falling into poverty due to an automation shock. Unemployment insurance might be redesigned to be more like “transition insurance” – supporting not just those who lost jobs, but also those who proactively leave a job to get retrained for a new one (a currently risky move that policy could encourage by providing a stipend while in training).

• Embrace “High Road” Labor Policies for the AI era: Governments should encourage or mandate companies to take the high road when automating – meaning, instead of simply laying off workers, companies should whenever possible retrain or redeploy them into new roles. This could be fostered by offering tax incentives or recognition for companies that show low displacement and high upskilling rates. Conversely, if needed, impose penalties or taxes on companies that engage in large, sudden layoffs due to automation without providing support (akin to a “layoff tax”). Some policymakers have floated the idea of a “robot tax” when a company replaces a worker with a machine – the company might pay a one-time fee that goes into a fund for retraining that worker. Such policies align corporate incentives with societal well-being. Additionally, updating labor laws to cover gig and freelance workers (who will become more common in a dynamic economy) is important – ensuring they have access to benefits and protections even if they’re not traditional employees.

2. Corporate Responsibility – “Business Equanomics”: Companies are at the forefront of deploying AI and automation. With great power comes great responsibility. We call on businesses to:

• Adopt a “People-First Automation” Approach: Before automating, think: how can this technology augment my workers rather than replace them? Often, AI can be used to assist employees, taking over drudge tasks and freeing humans for higher-value activities. For example, rather than firing customer service reps and letting a chatbot handle all inquiries, a company can use AI to help human reps respond faster and more accurately, improving service quality and allowing each rep to handle more complex interactions. Many forward-looking businesses see that AI can enhance human job performance – in one survey, 81% of office workers said AI improved their performance. Augmentation tends to be win-win: productivity rises and workers keep meaningful roles. Only automate-away jobs as a last resort, and if you do, try to create new jobs in your business that those workers can transition into (perhaps maintaining the new automated systems, or focusing on customer relations, etc.).

• Invest in Your Workforce: Companies must become educators. The days of expecting schools to churn out perfectly skilled workers for life are over. Smart companies will continuously train their employees in new skills. Some major firms have already pledged billions for workforce training programs – this needs to become the norm. If you’re an employer introducing AI, accompany it with an upskilling program for your staff to either work alongside the AI or move into new positions. Not only is this ethically sound, it’s also often more cost-effective than firing and hiring afresh, and it builds loyalty. As an example, when AT&T recognized massive skill gaps coming with new tech, they launched a multi-year “Future Ready” initiative to retrain tens of thousands of employees, offering online courses and tying skill acquisition to promotions. Such models should inspire all businesses to see employees not as easily replaceable cogs, but as partners in innovation.

• Redefine Metrics of Success: We urge companies to go beyond short-term profit and shareholder value as the sole metrics. Embrace metrics like “employees retrained this year,” “average wage growth of lowest-paid 25% of workforce,” “employee engagement and well-being scores,” and “community impact” as part of evaluating executive performance. Businesses should publicly report how many jobs they eliminated and created due to technology each year. Transparency builds trust – if a company can show that while they automated X roles, they also created X or more new roles (perhaps with higher value), that narrative is far more positive than just boasting about cost savings. In the Equanomic future, a great company is one that innovates and uplifts its workers and community. Those are the businesses that will earn public respect and customer loyalty.

• Collaborate with Communities: When a business does have to close a facility or lay off workers because of technological change, do it with compassion and partnership. Give generous severance and support – not just a payout, but career counseling, continued health benefits for a time, and funded retraining opportunities. Partner with local government and other companies to host job fairs or set up a task force to find new employment for affected workers. In essence, act not because the law forces you (though laws can encourage this), but because it’s the right thing to do and maintains the social license to operate. Many tech companies are richer and have more capacity than some governments; with that comes the ability – and we argue, the duty – to help solve the displacement problem.

• Innovate for Inclusivity: Design products and services with an eye toward creating opportunities. For example, if you develop a popular online marketplace, think about how it can empower small sellers or artisans to make a living (and provide them tools/training to do so). If you are building AI tools for coding, consider how those tools can help non-coders create software (thus democratizing who can be a developer). Technology can be a great equalizer if intentionally developed as such. Businesses that align their innovation roadmaps with the Equanomic ideals will find new markets and loyal users, because they are solving real human needs and fears. The displaced workers of today are the potential entrepreneurs and customers of tomorrow – help them become that, and you win as well.

3. Community and Civil Society – “Grassroots Equanomics”: Not everything can or should be top-down. Local communities, nonprofits, and individuals working together can drive Equanomics from the ground up:

• Create Local Innovation Hubs: Every town or city neighborhood could benefit from a physical (or virtual) space where people gather to learn new skills and work on projects. Think of a community center that’s part coworking space, part classroom, part makerspace. Here, someone who lost a job can drop in to get free training modules, use shared tools (like 3D printers or design software), and meet others in similar boats to collaborate. Retired professionals might volunteer as mentors. Such hubs can be funded by public grants, philanthropy, or even tech companies investing in workforce development. They also double as networking spaces – many people find new opportunities through community connections.

• Crowdsource Solutions and Success Stories: Communities can harness collective intelligence by sharing what works. If one town successfully transitioned a lot of laid-off retail workers into, say, solar installation jobs via a specific training program, that knowledge should spread to other towns. Platforms (online forums, local assemblies, or even hackathons) should be set up for sharing ideas on job creation, small business incubation, etc. During the pandemic, we saw how communities spontaneously organized mutual aid networks. In the automation transition, similar mutual support can happen: time banks (where people trade services), tool libraries, and peer-to-peer learning circles can all soften the impact of economic shifts. Ultimately, people helping people is a powerful engine of resilience.

• Advocacy and Voice: Civil society – including labor unions, advocacy groups, and ordinary citizens – must demand the policies and corporate behaviors described above. Governments and companies often move only when people push them to. This manifesto itself is an example of articulating a vision that can rally public support. Unions may need to evolve from solely protecting existing jobs to also negotiating for retraining rights and equity in any productivity gains from automation (for instance, if a factory installs robots, a union could bargain for workers to have a share in the cost savings). New organizations may form, such as “AI Users Groups” or “Displaced Workers Collectives,” to give voice to those particularly affected and to liaise with tech developers about their needs. The key is to be proactive: attend city council meetings, vote for leaders who understand these issues, participate in online forums shaping public opinion, and so on. A well-informed and vocal public is our best defense against poor outcomes.

• Cultural Shift – Celebrating Adaptation: Communities should strive to erase the stigma around job loss or career change. In an Equanomic culture, being a “career changer” at 40 or 50 is seen as courageous and normal, not as a failure. We should celebrate those who learn new trades and those who start fresh – throw “graduation” ceremonies for adults finishing retraining bootcamps, highlight success stories in local media of people who went from job displacement to new ventures. This positive reinforcement builds momentum. It tells everyone: you are not too old or too rooted to reinvent yourself. We are all lifelong learners. When communities rally around this identity, individuals gain the confidence to take the leap knowing their community has their back.

4. Personal Action – “Individual Equanomics”: Finally, at the individual level, each of us can take steps to thrive in the age of automation and contribute to Equanomics:

• Adopt a Growth Mindset: Embrace lifelong learning as part of your identity. The days of “one-and-done” education are over. This might be daunting, but it is also liberating: you are allowed to evolve. Be ready to learn new technologies, but also cultivate uniquely human skills – creativity, critical thinking, communication, empathy – which are hard for AI to replicate. Rather than fearing AI, learn to use AI as a tool in your own work or hobby. There are already many AI tools that can amplify individual productivity and creativity, often with user-friendly interfaces. By staying curious and flexible, you make yourself resilient to change. Remember that skills are the new job security – not a particular job title or employer. The more versatile your skills, the more paths you’ll have if one avenue closes.

• Identify Your Passion and Purpose: This is core to self-actualization. Take time to reflect on what you truly care about, what impact you want to have, and what activities make you “lose track of time” (in a good way). Is it building things? Helping others? Analyzing data? Creating art? Whatever it is, that passion can often be translated into economic activity with some creativity. The automated future will reward those who are self-directed, because there may be less traditional job structure. So think like an entrepreneur of your own life: what “service” or value can you provide that is uniquely you? It might not be your current job – and that’s okay. Equanomics is about finding your path to contribution. And if your passion currently doesn’t seem to align with a paying job, remember that the economy will evolve; entirely new niches will appear. Ten years ago, “social media manager” or “app developer” or “YouTube content creator” were barely jobs – now they are mainstream. In the future, there will be demand for roles we can’t yet name. By knowing your strengths and interests, you can quickly fit yourself to new opportunities as they arise.

• Leverage New Platforms and Communities: In the era of equanomics, there will be tools to help individuals navigate their journey. One example is 43Dreams.ai – a new platform we are launching to help you find your path to your next self. This AI-driven self-improvement website is designed as a personal dream compass: it helps you create a list of your dreams and goals and then outlines steps to accomplish them. Think of it as part intelligent career counselor, part life coach, part project manager – available to you 24/7. You input your aspirations (for example, “start a small catering business,” or “become a certified medical coder,” or “write a novel”), and 43Dreams.ai will help break down the goal into achievable steps, suggest resources (like courses, books, or local groups), and even crowdsource plans from a community of users with similar goals. The crowdsourcing aspect means you can see how others achieved what you want to do, learn from their experiences, and even collaborate. We mention this not just to promote one platform, but to illustrate the kind of empowering tools that are emerging. Make use of them! If a website or an app can guide you in drawing a roadmap for your personal growth, take advantage of it. In short, turn AI into your personal assistant in crafting your future. Rather than AI replacing you, let it enhance you.

• Be a Creator, Not Just a Consumer: This applies not only to the displaced but to everyone. The manifesto opened with a stark question – will you settle for passive existence on the dole, or will you create in the new world? Our hope is that you choose to create. This doesn’t mean everyone must start a company or build a robot – “creation” can be as simple as actively contributing your ideas and talents to something meaningful. It could be writing a blog sharing knowledge, or volunteering to build a community garden, or designing a new product and launching a Kickstarter. The key is active engagement. Creators drive equanomics; passive bystanders will get swept aside by change. Moreover, creating something – no matter how small – builds confidence and skills, and might even open new income streams. If you’ve ever considered a side project or learning that skill you always wished you had, now is the time. With AI and online platforms, the barriers to create are lower than ever. The world needs the full creative contribution of as many people as possible to navigate this transition. Don’t underestimate what you, as an individual, can invent or impact.

• Take Care of Mental and Physical Health: Finally, personal resilience is bolstered by wellbeing. Change, even positive change, can be stressful. As you adapt, don’t neglect your mental health. Lean on friends, family, or support groups; engage in physical activity; practice mindfulness or hobbies that relax you. Communities and companies can provide resources, but individuals should also prioritize self-care. A healthy mind is more agile and better able to learn and cope. Remember that you’re not alone in facing these changes – millions are going through it, and together we can support one another. Have compassion for yourself and others; not every day will be easy, but maintaining hope and determination is key. The manifesto’s vision is a long-term one – pace yourself for a marathon, not a sprint.

By taking these actions – in governance, business, community, and personal life – we begin to build the equanomic future right now. The work is multifaceted and will take years of persistent effort. But piece by piece, policy by policy, innovation by innovation, life by life, we will see the outlines of a new system taking shape: one that truly equips and values every human being, in an era when machines do so much.

A Call to Action: Join the Equanomics Revolution

We have laid out the challenges and the vision, the principles and the steps. Now it comes down to choice and action. The transition is already underway – the future is arriving faster than many can handle, and it will not slow down. In this pivotal moment, each of us – whether a policy maker, a CEO, an engineer, a teacher, or a worker in a declining industry – must decide where we stand. Will we cling to the old paradigms and watch society fracture, or will we seize this moment to reinvent our world for the better?

The Equanomics Manifesto implores you to seize the moment. If you are someone anxious about your place in this changing economy, know that you are not alone, and you are not powerless. There is a community of dreamers and doers rising to shape a more just and creative world. If you are someone at the cutting edge, building the AI tools and new industries, remember that your innovations hold the keys to humanity’s future. Use them wisely – build a legacy you’ll be proud of when you tell your grandchildren how you contributed to the world they inherit.

Above all, recognize that time is of the essence. Studies warn that countries which fail to manage the coming workforce transitions could see rising unemployment and depressed wages – but those that invest in their people can achieve prosperity. The next few years are critical. Already by 2030, the landscape of work will be drastically different; an estimated 75 million to 375 million workers may need to switch occupations and learn new skills by 2030. That scale of change has happened before in history (think of the move from farms to factories), but never this rapidly. The actions we take today and in the next five years will determine whether this story is one of triumph or tragedy.

To the general public, we say: add your voice and effort to this cause. Talk about these issues with your friends and family, share this vision, and start preparing in your own life. Big change starts with conversations and small steps at kitchen tables, in classrooms, and on social media. Encourage your employer to offer training; encourage your local officials to invest in upskilling programs. Mentor someone if you have skills to share; seek a mentor if you need guidance. Each connection we make strengthens the safety net and the launchpad for someone.

To those being displaced or fearing displacement, our message is one of empowerment: You have given years of service and work – you have value far beyond a single job title. The world still needs you, just in new ways. Take advantage of programs and tools available (such as the 43Dreams.ai platform or others) to plot a new course. It’s never too late to learn or to dream. In fact, now is the perfect time to rediscover what you love and turn it into your next career. Yes, it’s daunting, but you have a global community rooting for you and resources that past generations could only wish for. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help – equanomics is about mutual support. Likewise, be ready to offer help to others once you regain your footing; having gone through it yourself, you will be an inspiration and guide to many.

To the innovators, tech developers, and entrepreneurs, our message is one of responsibility and opportunity: You are literally scripting the future with every line of code and every business model. Make it a future that includes everyone. The long-term success of the tech industry (and capitalism itself) hinges on expanding prosperity, not shrinking it. If AI and automation end up only benefiting a narrow group, social instability will ultimately threaten even those on top. But if you consciously drive inclusivity – by creating jobs, sharing wealth (through stock programs, data dividends, etc.), and empowering users – you will unlock new markets and more talent and ensure a sustainable growth environment. Equanomics isn’t anti-business; it’s pro-sustainable business and pro-human business. As an innovator, you have the creativity to solve big problems: put that genius to work on the human problems of this transition, not just the technical ones. We challenge you to innovate not only in products, but in how you treat workers, users, and communities. Set bold goals: for example, if you run an AI firm, can you aim to retrain 100% of workers your AI displaces? Can you design your platform so it creates 10 new income opportunities for every 1 it eliminates? These kinds of moonshot goals will attract talent who want to be part of something meaningful. Be the leader who proves that technology and equality can advance hand in hand.

To policy makers and leaders, our message is one of bold vision: Tinkering at the margins will not suffice. We need a New Deal-scale or Marshall Plan-scale response to the changes underway. This is not merely an economic issue; it’s a societal transformation. Craft policies that are proactive, not reactive. Experiment with UBI or job guarantees or other radical ideas on a small scale now, so we have models to expand if needed. Encourage innovation in governance – like upskilling tax credits or AI development regulations that ensure fairness. And work collaboratively across party lines and national borders; automation doesn’t care about political ideologies or national boundaries. It’s a global wave, and we’re all in it together. By sharing knowledge (for instance, if one country finds an excellent way to retrain coal miners into coders, broadcast that method to others), we can speed up solutions. Please, listen to both experts and ordinary citizens as you formulate plans – neither has the full picture alone. And don’t underestimate the public’s willingness to support bold action: when people understand the stakes, they will rally behind courageous leadership. History will judge leaders of this era by how they navigated the AI revolution – those who champion Equanomics will be remembered as the architects of a golden age; those who ignore it risk being remembered for presiding over decline.

Finally, to everyone reading, know that this manifesto is not just words on a page – it is the beginning of a movement. The term Equanomicsencapsulates an idea whose time has come: that economic progress and human equality must advance together. We invite you to take this term and this vision and spread it. Discuss it, critique it, improve it. Manifestos spark dialogue and action; they are not the final word but the first spark. If this document has resonated with you, share it and start a conversation. If you disagree with parts, that’s fine too – engage and propose alternatives that still strive for the same ultimate goal: an economy that serves humanity, not the other way around.

The equilibrium of the past is gone. We are heading into a new era one way or another. The Equanomics Manifesto is our declaration that we choose a future of broad prosperity, creativity, and purpose. We reject the notion that technology’s gains must accrue to a select few while others suffer. We reject fatalism and passivity. Instead, we assert our collective agency: we as citizens, workers, inventors, and leaders hold the power to shape the trajectory of progress.

To return to the question posed at the start: Do you want to live out your days as a passive recipient of change, or as an active creator of the new world?We hope you choose to create – to join us in building Equanomics. The tools are at our disposal, the knowledge is in our minds, and the passion is in our hearts. What we need now is the will and the work.

Let this be the manifesto that we look back on years from now as the moment we rolled up our sleeves and took charge of our destiny. The challenges are real, but so is our resolve. Together, we will make automation and AI the gateway to a richer, more equitable human experience – a world where each person can dream, and through support and determination, see those dreams realized.

The Equanomics revolution begins today. It begins with all of us.

Let’s get to work. The future is ours to create.

Sources:

• McKinsey Global Institute – Jobs lost, jobs gained: workforce transitions in a time of automation
• Goldman Sachs analysis via BBC – 300 million jobs at risk from AI
• McKinsey – Generative AI and the future of work in America (2023)
• Survey data on worker fears and AI displacement – SEO.ai report (Dec 2024)
• Exploding Topics (2025) – AI replacing jobs statistics
• World Economic Forum – Future of Jobs Report (2018, 2020)
• Innopharma Education blog – Impact of AI on employment
• Abraham Maslow, definition of self-actualization
• APA (American Psychiatric Assoc.) – Purpose in life & mental health
• James F. O’Brien, Medium (Aug 2024) – Taxing AI work for UBI
• McKinsey – Jobs of the future: sufficient work if transitions managed
• McKinsey – 400–800 million global workers could be displaced by 2030
• McKinsey – 75M–375M may need to switch occupations by 2030
• ResumeBuilder Survey – 49% of companies use ChatGPT, 48% of those replaced workers
• IBM Global AI Adoption Index – 77% of businesses using or exploring AI (indicating prevalence of AI in business).