The focus in the dominant culture upon the monetary economy, represented by the concept of the "scarcity paradigm" in which economic demand is created by the emphasis upon possessiveness and property rights, preventing sharing and resulting in the exchange economy, is often explained via the theory of "rational self-interest." In contrast, the parallel culture of the "plenty paradigm" focusing upon the sharing economy of common property ownership is explained via the theory of "rational altruism." The scarcity paradigm asserts the negative perspective that the pursuit of happiness requires a struggle for private wealth and power, while the plenty paradigm asserts the positive perspective that happiness is best provided when we affirm that there is plenty for all when we share.

The links on this page are to documents discussing the theory and value of intentional community as forms of applied rational altruism, and to documents presenting various histories of community movements and community networking organizations around the world.