Empathy-Based Economy and the Emergence of a Compassionate Local Network

This paper proposes a conceptual framework called the “Empathy-Based Economy (KindnessCapitalism)” and the “Compassionate Local Network” as a response to the structural limitations ofcontemporary capitalism. The current economic system, driven by a logic of competition andaccumulation, has led to widening inequality, environmental degradation, and increasingpsychological distress. This study explores the potential for a new institutional paradigm in whichempathy, rather than competition, forms the core of economic value. At the center of this model isthe idea of a “Compassion Token”—a system that records and visualizes acts of kindness andmutual aid as a unit of social and economic value. The proposed structure envisions a stepwisetransition: beginning with small-scale social experiments on platforms like X (formerly Twitter),expanding into local community networks, and ultimately evolving into a sustainable civilizationmodel that no longer relies on traditional state systems or currency-based exchange. This paper isnot intended as a finalized theory built upon disciplinary expertise, but rather as a civic-levelproposal arising from personal reflection and lived experience. The author acknowledges the needfor rigorous academic analysis and welcomes interdisciplinary engagement and future research tocritically examine and develop the ideas presented. It is hoped that this work serves as a startingpoint for rethinking the foundations of economy and society.