A Comparative Study of the Community Point System and Community Currency System: the Case of Good4Trust in Türkiye

Abstract

This study examines Good4Trust, a Turkish online marketplace that employs a prosumer economic model using a “Trust” point system to foster a sustainable and socially just ecosystem. Prosumers earn trust points through purchases and use them for future transactions. This study analyzes Good4Trust as a community point system (CPS) and compares it to Community Currency Systems (CCSs), revealing shared goals but distinct challenges in point and currency circulation. A key issue identified is the accumulation of unused trust points, which differs from the stagnation problems often observed in CCSs. To address this issue, this study proposes solutions inspired by CCSs, such as enabling peer-to-peer transactions, promoting non-commercial exchanges, strategically redistributing accumulated points, and creating customized communities to enhance point circulation and engagement. This study contributes to the discourse on alternative economic models and offers practical insights for improving prosumer initiatives.