The Value Threshold: Why Value Only Comes Into Being When Work Appears — Ontology of the Emergence Economy and Introduction of the Universal Care Income (UCI)

Timothy Speed (2025)

Abstract

This paper develops a novel ontologically grounded theory of value generation, tracing capitalist performance logic back to a fundamental systemic blind spot. The starting point is the observation that work always exists, but value only arises where work becomes visible. The value threshold (T) functions as an epistemic reality filter that decides which forms of work are permitted to emerge as achievement, and which remain invisible. ([zenodo.org](https://zenodo.org/records/17840416))

The analysis shows that submergent, invisible work (care, ecological regeneration, social cohesion, psychic regulation, cultural stabilisation) generates the majority of societal carrying capacity, yet does not transition into economic value-form. Capitalism is structurally based on the invisibilisation of world — value arises through exclusion. An alternative model, Universal Care Income (UCI), makes invisible work emergent and shifts value ontology towards regenerative future-carrying capacity. ([zenodo.org](https://zenodo.org/records/17840416))

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17840416

Keywords: value threshold, emergence theory, non-market value, Universal Care Income, post-capitalist economics, care economy, structural invisibility, relational labour

Download full paper (PDF, Zenodo)

This page provides a static landing page for an academic paper archived on Zenodo. No cookies, tracking, analytics, or user interaction are used. The content is provided for scholarly documentation purposes only. Author identification and contact context are available via the linked DOI and ORCID records.