The Revolutionary Economics of Human Agency: How Depay Redefines Value and Agency in Modern Markets

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithmic decision-making and centralized economic power, a transformative shift is underway—driven by new frameworks that restore human agency to the center of value creation. Among the most influential forces in this movement is Maxime Depay, a visionary thinker whose work challenges traditional economic paradigms by recentering human intentionality, collective action, and purpose-driven outcomes. Depay’s framework—often summarized as “economic agency through meaningful action”—has emerged as a cornerstone for reimagining markets where people, not just profits or data, are valued as true economic actors.

This article explores the core principles of Depay’s economics, its practical applications across industries, and the profound implications for the future of work, innovation, and social equity.

At its foundation, Depay’s economic philosophy rejects the reduction of labor and participation to mere transactional inputs in a system dominated by automation and capital efficiency. Instead, he argues that true economic value arises from human agency—the capacity of individuals to shape outcomes through deliberate, ethical, and relational choices.

“Markets must evolve beyond efficiency and output,” Depay asserts, “to embrace the moral and creative potential of people who act with purpose.” This principle reframes work from a commodity into a dynamic space of contribution, identity, and shared meaning.

Reinventing Value: Beyond Labor as Input

Traditional economic models often quantify labor solely in terms of hours worked, output produced, or skills measured—reducing human contribution to quantifiable units. Depay dismantles this transactional view, proposing a dual-axis model of value creation: one axis measures technical output, while the other captures relational, cultural, and ethical impact.

This distinction is critical: a teacher mentoring students, a software developer contributing open-source code, or a community organizer building local resilience generates value extending far beyond measurable productivity.

1. Relational Capital: The Hidden Asset Depay emphasizes that human relationships and trust are foundational to sustainable economic activity. In his view, every meaningful interaction—between coworkers, customers, and communities—creates “relational capital” that enhances collective outcomes.

   Businesses that nurture this capital, rather than merely extracting it, report higher innovation rates and employee retention.

2. The Triad of Meaningful Work
Depay identifies three core dimensions that define purposeful work:
• Autonomy – individuals retain control over how, when, and why they contribute.
• Purpose – work aligns with personal or collective values, fostering intrinsic motivation.

• Connection – collaboration and shared responsibility deepen engagement and accountability.
Liability-laden gig platforms that fragment control often erode these dimensions, but Depay champions decentralized models—such as cooperatives and mutual aid networks—where workers co-own processes and outcomes, restoring dignity and long-term commitment.
3. Collective Agency as Economic Leverage
For Depay, agency is not individualistic but collective. When groups act with shared intent, their aggregated influence becomes a potent economic force.

He highlights examples where worker cooperatives generate higher surplus reinvestment into communities and workforce development than traditional corporate structures, citing a 2023 OECD study showing cooperatives reinvest 30% more of profits locally than shareholder-focused firms.

From Theory to Practice: Real-World Applications

Depay’s framework is not confined to academic discourse; it has been tested and validated across sectors, from tech to agriculture, proving its adaptability and transformative power.

In the digital economy, Depay’s principles challenge the “platform capitalism” that often exploits user data and labor without fair reciprocity.

Emerging decentralized platforms, such as blockchain-based content networks, now integrate portfolio-based compensation—rewarding creators not just for views, but for authentic engagement and creative contribution. These models echo Depay’s call for economic systems that honor effort and intention over passive consumption. Case Study: Cooperative Software Development Open-source projects like GNOME and Linux exemplify Depay’s vision.

Developers contribute code not for direct pay, but driven by passion, peer recognition, and shared mission. Funding models increasingly reflect this: grants, patronage systems, and revenue-sharing agreements ensure contributors’ agency and sustainability, creating self-reinforcing ecosystems of innovation.

In local economies, Depay’s “local agency” model inspires municipal initiatives to support community-owned enterprises.

In Belgium, where Depay is based, regional cooperatives have revitalized shrinking towns by enabling locals to co-manage businesses in tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy. These ventures reduce dependency on external capital while increasing social cohesion and resilience.

The Myth of Passive Contribution: Human Action as Catalysts

A core insight of Depay’s economics is rejecting the myth that humans are passive contributors in economic systems.

Instead, he frames individuals and communities as active “economic agents” whose choices—how they collaborate, innovate, and resist—drive systemic change. This agency manifests in resistance to exploitative practices, demands for transparency, and collective building of alternatives. In the sharing economy, for example, Depay notes that platforms enabling peer-to-peer exchange are more sustainable when structured as mutual aid—not extractive monopolies.

A co-op ride-sharing network, governed by its users, exemplifies this: drivers and riders co-determine pricing, safety standards, and profit distribution, creating ecosystems rooted in mutual benefit rather than shareholder extraction.

Policy and Institutional Shifts: Building Economies of Agency

For Depay’s vision to scale, institutional support is essential. He advocates for policies that shift economic incentives toward agentic participation—such as wage models rewarding relational and creative labor, tax incentives for cooperative enterprises, and public procurement favoring community-owned firms.

policies are already gaining traction. Belgium’s “platform cooperativism” legislation mandates worker equity and democratic governance in digital platforms receiving public funding. Similarly, cities worldwide are adopting “right to the city” charters that empower communities to co-design local economic development, ensuring public assets serve collective agency.

Institute-level support matters. Universities working with Depay emphasize integrating agency theory into curricula, training future leaders to see economic