Non-Monetary Acts
In every society, countless hours of essential labor go unrecognized in economic statistics. Household chores, caregiving for family members, parental leave, and time off work for pregnancy and post-birth recovery all contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities, yet they are rarely measured as part of economic productivity. Additionally, responsibilities like taking sick days to care for children, managing household waste through recycling and sorting, and making eco-conscious decisions such as reducing travel play a crucial role in family life and environmental sustainability. Beyond these, many essential contributions fall outside traditional economic measurement. Volunteering in community service, providing emotional and mental support to family and friends, and engaging in self-sustenance activities such as growing food for personal use all play a role in maintaining the fabric of society. These efforts ensure the smooth functioning of households, strengthen social ties, and support overall societal resilience. These responsibilities, often shouldered disproportionately by women, form the foundation of social stability, environmental responsibility, and economic sustainability.
To fully recognize their significance, we develop a measurement system that mirrors traditional economic analysis, assigning value to these activities in ways that reflect their impact on individuals, families, and communities. One proposed model is the Equity Index for Societal Contribution (EISC), a conceptual tool designed to capture and quantify the value of non-market labor and “invisible” contributions that sustain everyday life.
The EISC includes components such as:
Caregiving (for children, the elderly, and disabled individuals)
Household labor (cleaning, cooking, organizing)
Emotional and relational support
Volunteering and civic engagement
Environmental responsibility (waste sorting, energy use, low-impact living)
Self-sustenance practices, e.g., reducing consumption and extending product lifecycles
These components are weighted based on time invested, their social and environmental impact, and their ability to offset public costs (such as healthcare or social services). The index can be analyzed by applying the A or B series:
A-series: How recognition of these contributions evolves in response to societal shifts and crises (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic or gender equality and LGBTQ+ movements promoting inclusive definitions of family, caregiving, and community support)
B-series: How policy decisions (e.g., parental leave, elder care support, sustainability incentives) correlate with changes in unpaid labor demands or recognition.
The EISC enables policymakers and economists to integrate invisible labor into national accounts and planning, helping shift toward a more holistic and inclusive understanding of value, productivity, and well-being.