THE CONSUMPTION COUPON

TEAM NAME: CTRL + S

AIM: TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT CAUSES

RETROGRADATION OF OVERCONSUMPTION OF
RESOURCES AND TO IMPROVE THE GROWING
POPULATION’S LIVING CONDITIONS
“If we fail to bring population growth and

overconsumption under control, then we will

inhabit a planet where life becomes increasingly

untenable.”

- Paul Ralph Ehrlich

What does overconsumption refer

to?

Overconsumption refers to a situation where resource

use has outpaced the sustainable capacity of

ecosystem.

Too many people, including powerful politicians, are

under the assumption that technological fixes are
sufficient to sustain humanity. But
overconsumption is often ignored. This underrated
crisis today’s world is facing has already caused the
collapse of various ancient civilizations, like the
Mayans. Today, economists estimate that
humanity’s need is 70% more than the regeneration
rate of all the planet’s ecosystems. Even with all the
advances in technology, consumption increases
with the increase in population. Hence, the viable
option is to stabilize overconsumption and thus
protecting the resources for future generations’ use.

Help tax:
In our world, there are several brackets of people:
those who consume malignly; some others who
consume as per their need; and many more poor
people who consume less than what they need.

Consumption is directly proportional to the amount

of money spent as an expenditure by a person. So by
reducing unnecessary expenditure, we can reduce
unnecessary consumption.

To cause some sort of retro-gradation of

overconsumption, Team Ctrl+S proposes an
implementation of a special tax to people of a
certain income cohort called ‘help tax.’ This tax is to
be imposed across the world, thus international
co-operation is required. The tax collected could go
to a transparent body, which strives for the
betterment of usage of resources.

This tax is to be levied on goods and services. The

help tax is initially minimal, as low as 0.01%. But as
the expenditure increases, the tax increases. And
the rate is unique to each bank account and person.

Methods of proper budgeting are used to allocate the

amount from this tax to certain problems. It can be
used to employ people under the poverty line to
work for rejuvenating the nature and solve other
world problems as sustainably as possible.

We believe our solution helps in promoting ideas

and activities working towards the greater good of
humanity. The richest people on the Earth will have
to spend mindfully. They might have to give upon an
extremely luxe possession for the sake of
conservation of resources, protecting the
environment and for sustaining humanity. But this
sacrifice of some monetary riches will lead to harmonious
human-life.

A model function to calculate help tax:

x represents expenditure in rs, I represents rate of

increase of tax

Picturization:
Aim:
Transactions take place:

An identity which specifies an individuals tax

rating:
The utilization of collected tax to create

employment by the organization:

The creation of employment:

Bettering of public facilities by the

organization:
An improved individual life requiring lesser

expenditure for greater standards of living:

A model working of the organization:

1) Annual budget meetings to be held. They

could be weeks long.
2) Policies to be modified for every country
based on GDP per capita and PPP to ensure fair
taxation.
3) All aspects of investments ( in human and
natural resources) to be evaluated regularly.
4) Tasks updated in regular meetings depending
upon real-time problems across the world.
5) N ew tasks to be done with old, long-term
plans in mind.

Other solutions:
1. Controlling overpopulation and individual consumption can be
done by increasing awareness and implementing policies like one
child policy or by government incentives to have small families
the government can cheapen public facilities and hence reduce
individual consumption on services that can benefit several at a
lower cost. Example: transport.

2. Switching to technologies that can’t be overconsumed. Example:

N2 powered cars and fuels that can be a great cost-effective
alternative to old transport cleaner jet fuel produced by
atmospheric gases reducing meat consumption and hence the
factory outputs or adopting newer methods.

Conclusion:
Overconsumption is a huge threat to nature humanity and immediate

actions and regulations are necessary to stabilize consumption.

Ctrl+S members:
Mukhil Krishnan

Naman Agrawal