Libertarian “Me” Corps

The principle tenet of libertarianism is that liberty – including individual liberty and political freedom – is more important than anything else. In contemporary and more moderate libertarianism, basic libertarian principles are not necessarily at odds with capitalist principles – in fact, the two can coexist very nicely given the right ingredients. Given this framework, we now see the rise of a new model of libertarian-inspired capitalism, in which individuals avoid traditional institutions and processes. One clear manifestation of this is a phenomenon we have dubbed “Me corps.” This is an entirely new entrepreneurial ethic. Instead of individuals or sets of partners starting a business and looking for outside investment in the future of that business (and by extension, the “management team”), we now see people who are looking for direct investments in themselves. They are literally selling shares in themselves, their success, their data and their lives as if they were their own corporation.