The ECO Model: Planetary Shareholding Theory

This working paper proposes the ECO Model—a theoretical framework in which the Planet is treated as a shareholder of companies that exploit natural resources. The acronym ECO reflects the model’s dual purpose: to reconcile Ecology and Economics. Unlike dominant approaches that treat the environment as an externality to be corrected (taxation, regulation, compensation), the ECO Model reconceptualizes natural capital as an equity contribution. The Planet receives shares, voting rights, and dividends earmarked for the regeneration of exploited ecosystems. The model rests on six axioms and seven equations formalizing Planetary Capital (Kp), the planetary share (αp) capped at 49%, the Planetary Dividend (Dp), and the Smoothing Fund (Fp). Two theorems—Sustainability (T1) and Planetary Cessation (T2)—define the conditions of viability. The institutional architecture draws on existing mechanisms: the Local Planetary Trust (LPT), which transposes the Anglo-Saxon trust; the Planetary Co-Statutory Auditor (integrated into the existing statutory audit infrastructure); and certification and ecological alert procedures modeled on financial audit practice. This theoretical work aims to demonstrate that a company in which the Planet is a shareholder can durably align economic and ecological interests. Empirical validation and social transition mechanisms constitute the primary avenues for future research.