Universal Property Norms

Regardless of whether a particular resource is owned privately or collectively, there are some universal property norms that apply.

1. Homesteading, or original appropriation. For all property systems, if nobody else owns a resource, the first significant user has the highest claim to that resource.
2. Alienation. We may alienate property by trade, gift, or abandonment.

1. Trade. An owner of one good may transfer ownership on the condition that he receive title to a different good in a mutually voluntary transaction.
2. Gift. An owner may transfer ownership of a good to a consenting other.
3. Abandonment. An owner may relinquish title unilaterally, resulting in an ownerless good open for homesteading.
3. Exclusion. Owners have a right to exclude others from property.
4. Responsive force. Owners have the right to use force, even violent force, to defend property.
5. Appropriate force. One should use no more force than necessary in defending property.

Prev

Next

Anarchism