Island Game: Setting Up Your Island Society Economic Plan

Island Game
The Scenario
Take a good look around, because these are the people with whom you have just been shipwrecked on a
distant uncharted island.
As far as you know, you are the only survivors of global catastrophe and it is up to you to develop a new
society. This society should meet your needs, as you define them, and it should avoid the mistakes of "the old
ones", those who died in the recent tragedy.
Use the questions provided to guide your discussion of how you will set up this new society. Record your
answers on this document headed by the name you have given to the island.
This is a beautiful island. It is tropical (average temperature 80F), it has many sources of food (fruit trees, fish,
land for agriculture), and it has a steady wind from the West of about 15 m.p.h.. Remember, this is not a
vacation, you have work to do . . so get to it !
SETTING UP YOUR ISLAND SOCIETY
Economic Plan
1. What will be your economic and/or socioeconomic goals? Choose only most important ones,
recognizing trade-offs.
Food
Water
Shelter
Medical Care
Education
Market/barter system
NO GUNS
2. Overall, what will be produced? How will it be produced? For whom will it be produced? Who
will make those decisions (government, individuals or a mix)?
Triumvirate,
Food
Herbal medicines
Shelter
Those who dont work, dont receive(obviously, if you are injured in a
way so as to prevent you from doing your job, exceptions will be made). Our tiny
island society is too small to sustain any sort of a welfare or safety-net system.
3. How will your island government be involved in the economy?

The government will keep order so that every individual has the same personal
resources as everyone else.
Directions: Now use answers to "Economic Plan" to determine the following. Make sure your responses are
consistent with your overall plan.
Land/Distribution/Location
1. Will the land be privately owned? If so, who gets it and how?
NO, privatization does not help civilians.
Areas for resources, not for people. Regulated by govt.
2. Should the land be owned by everyone together?
The land should not be owned. It ought to be used by the society as needed.
3. Should you divide it up and distribute it?
No, the land will be used as a community area the private land.
4. If so, should it be divided equally? What constitutes equal?
N/A
5. Where on the island should you live?
Somewhere far enough from the shore that the tides and ocean storms wont hurt our
civilization, but near a source of fresh water.
6. Should you consider the needs of the environment? How?
Yes, because the environment is all that we have in this situation. If we wreck the environment,
we effectively kill ourselves.
7. Who has rights to the water? How will these be provided for?
Everyone has the to water, the civilians will make sure the water isn't contaminated.
Labor
1. What work must be done?
Agriculture(Hydroponic)
Aquaculture
Fishing
Cooking
Building(tools, buildings)
Medicine
Education
2. List the kinds of jobs required to sustain the lifestyle you desire.
Fishermen
Farmers
Healers
Craftsmen
Teachers
Cooks
Leaders
Record-keepers/librarians/keepers of knowledge/teachers

3. Who should do these jobs?

Whoevers best at it.
If the best at it is better at something that nobody else is good at it, then the
person whos second-best at the job will be in charge of it, with the person whos best at it
tutoring the 2nd-best in their off-time.
4. What about the jobs that nobody likes?

Do the job or get no food. Were in a do-or-die situation- so we either do, or die.
5. Does each person just have one job or many?

Yes, unless someone becomes sick or injured, in which case they will be excused.
People in government will have a second job, since our society is too small to
require full-time management
1. What natural resources will be used to produce goods?

Water
Wood, with replacement(cut one down, plant 2 more)
Stones

2. Will there be rules governing use of natural resources? Why or why not?
a. If yes, which?
Yes, dont use them up. Why? QED
Capital
1. What kind of capital (tools, machines, etc.) will be used to produce goods? How will this capital
be attained?
Saws, hammers, knives, etc. from wood, shell, and stone.
Wood will be from driftwood, trees
Basic Needs
1. Are there some basic needs that you believe should be guaranteed for all?
a. If so, what are they? Or do you think that individuals should secure their needs
by themselves?
Water
Food
Houses
Basic clothing
2. Create a name for your team that reflects the type of system you have developed.
Team SURVIVAL
Problem Solving Scenario

Native Peoples
Meet with them, introduce ourselves, and explain our situation.
Ask if we can merge our communities and pool our resources.
NO MINING
Respectfully learn about their culture, and teach them about ours
Dont forcefully change anything
DONT BE THE EUROPEANS
Energy
Energy Type Pros Cons
Nuclear Relatively clean Nuclear waste

Lots of energy Danger of leaks,
radiation poisoning,
wrecking environment
Oil
Wind Renewable Fairly unreliable

Clean
Solar Renewable Fairly unreliable

Clean
Steam Renewable
Clean

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Island Game

SETTING UP YOUR ISLAND SOCIETY

3. How will your island government be involved in the economy?

3. Who should do these jobs?

4. What about the jobs that nobody likes?

5. Does each person just have one job or many?

1. What natural resources will be used to produce goods?

Problem Solving Scenario

Energy Type Pros Cons

Nuclear Relatively clean Nuclear waste

Wind Renewable Fairly unreliable

Solar Renewable Fairly unreliable

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