You Will Own Nothing and Be Happy: Property, Access, and Systemic Dependency

Abstract

The shift from ownership to access is not merely a change in economic model — it is a structural reorganization of agency. When individuals hold property, they hold a residual right to act independently of the systems that surround them. When they hold access instead, their autonomy is contingent on the continued cooperation of the access provider. This paper examines the architectural implications of the access economy: how dependency is produced, how it is stabilized, and what systemic risks emerge when access infrastructure becomes the primary medium through which people exercise basic capabilities.