Dual-Sphere Economy

The economy of the New Real evolved from dual-sphere economies of the developed Eastern world which came about in the early 21st century. The spheres of economics in question are Essentials and Luxuries.

Essentials
Essentials are paid for by volunteering your time, which earns you Hours. While you might not need food or a physician (body doctor), you will probably need mental health care. It turns out that with medications being automatically administered to emulated brains, most people just need someone new to talk to in order to solve minor mental issues, and if a new perspective isn't enough then Hours can be used to receive professional psychological therapy. Aside from that, most issues with living forever are usually related to mental health as well, so keeping a fair amount of Hours is a good idea.

Volunteering to spend time conversing with people who are much different than yourself is an easy way to earn more Hours. People who would agree with you too much tend to leave you without a new perspective, while talking to strangers tends to bring opportunities. You could be the person who says “I know a guy” if you spend enough time chatting with random people about life.

Housing
Basic housing, in the form of apartment units, is provided in one of four categories...


 * Size 1 Modular Housing Units, which provide a bed and a shelf, are "cheaper than free"; you can receive a bonus of Hours and a monthly payment of COINs for living in a Capsule Unit. Such units can be...
 * Twin mattress unit with a shelf, Dynamail ports and wireless electrical. A thin wall separates you from your next door neighbour.
 * Queen mattress unit to share with a significant other, with two shelves and two Dynamail ports.
 * Size 2 Modular Housing Units, which provide a private bathroom stall, mini fridge, sink, desk, television, phone, built-in alarm clock and a window. These units are the baseline, and one unit is provided free to new resurrections.
 * Size 3+ Modular Housing Units, which provide everything seen in a Size 2 MHU but have less cramped living conditions.
 * Family Modular housing Units are provided free to persons who choose to adopt a resurrected child.
 * Single Resident or Spousal Residence units require monthly rent payments of COINs.
 * Legacy Housing, which varies wildly in features and amenities and are rented or purchased by the resident.

All MHUs have at least one Dynamail port, and provide electricity and Power Line Communication via copper-iron alloy wires woven into the walls of the unit.

Luxuries
Food and water, while not strictly luxuries, are paid for using COINs like luxuries. The goal is to limit the amount of resources consumed, something which applies even to the Council of the Descendants; by forcing councilmembers to be subject to the same rationing protocol as everyone else on Gaia, it ensures they don't skimp on dishing out necessities to line their pockets. So far it has worked wonders, with the amount of free COINs provided every month to Gaians being fine-tuned for providing for the basic needs of even the most unfortunate people without any wasteful excess.

Luxuries proper can be purchased using COINs, possibly by saving up. In an economy of potentially infinite supply, the artisan plays a critical role. Mass produced goods are priced by the energy that goes into the product, but objects such as artwork or unique designs are able to be marked up significantly. Anything you buy as a unique luxury requires the time of a professional, in order to construct what you want. This enables a different way of thinking about COINs than you would expect from money.

While the comparison can be made to buying an expensive suit, the economy of the New Real is tailored to “you can’t have it all”. You can’t have the best house, best cars, best yacht, best everything… because exceptional quality has to be made by hand and you start with nothing but the clothes on your back when you enter the New Real. Even if large sums of money are accumulated, the economic system is designed to prevent rapid wealth accumulation (such as banning the practice of banks loaning out more COINs than they have) and create gradual money sinks.

Black Market
Hex is often used as currency on the black market, to purchase goods or services which are illegal. Black market goods and services include tobacco cigarettes, gambling parlors, ammunition for firearms, and unprescribed or illegally prescribed pharmaceuticals including Color-Shape mixtures.

Addictions
While most former street drugs, including vaporized marijuana and LSD, are entirely legal, certain street drugs like crystalline methamphetamine or unpurified desomorphine are considered toxins and given heavy restrictions accordingly. Instead of a "War on Vices", most regulation of street drugs, tobacco and gambing involves providing therapy and medical assistance to addicts. If, for example, a person is caught playing roulette in an illegal gambling partner, they will be taken to a psychologist rather than a jail cell. The only potential consequence will be a debt of Essentials Hours, which can easily be paid off by volunteering time.