量能付費方式說明

量能付費制度是由商業團體或政府機構所採用，依據顧客、付費者的支付能力和意願而決定價格。在美國的運作情況中，除了部分企業採用這種方式以外，政府稅務體系也是以此為依據；台灣的稅務體系和健保制度也採用此原則。換言之，你賺的錢越多，你越有能力支持那系統的運作。

量能付費的目的是，讓每個人、或任何想參與的人，不論其收入高低，都能獲得那件商品或勞務；因此在量能付費制度中，某個人支付與其他人不同的價格，可說是必然的結果。

量能付費制度的兩種運作方式
1.架構較嚴謹的方式
由事業體依據客戶的收入情況、付款能力、需求、特性，進行多方考量之後制定價格，客戶必須接受由經營者所訂的價格，例如年收入30萬元者支付1萬元、收入50萬元者支付2萬元，收入100萬元以上者支付3萬元；在健保制度中常可見到這種方式。

2.架構較鬆散的方式
在美國的藝文活動和部分餐飲業中，較常見到這種制度，它是由付費者依據自己的能力和意願決定價格。在入口處會公告一個建議價格，但那只是供作參考。在這種方式下，低收入者可能支付比高收入者更高的價格。你付費的金額是依據該商品或勞務對你自己的價值高低而決定，不是由他人。它的基礎不只是你的支付能力，還包括背後的榮譽精神----人們會以自己為榮，不會利用這套制度貪小便宜，只支付不合理的偏低價格。

美國著名的社區協力農業實踐者Elizabeth Henderson，採用稍微不同的量能付費制度，她的CSA成員有三種價格可以選擇，「一般」股價是（每年）400美金，收入較低者可選擇200美金，收入較高者可選擇600美金。實際運作的結果是她們的CSA計畫每年都可獲得平均400元的收入，剛好足夠計畫運作所需。

博仲-阿輝CSA量能付費制度：由參與者自行在新台幣300～640元之間，選取要支付的價格。目前每週5種菜、每種半斤，有三種價格：300、400、640元。

為什麼要向阿輝購買蔬菜
那裡的蔬菜至少有四個明顯的好處：
1.阿輝的蔬菜非常新鮮，當天採收，從農場直接運送到辦公室，幾乎是你能買到最新鮮、最營養的蔬菜；
2.改善阿輝農場的土地，那裡的土壤持續採用劉力學的堆肥模式，利用廚餘改產土壤；
3.沒有施用任何化學肥料或殺蟲劑；
4.土壤和蔬菜每年會送給相關單位檢測重金屬，過去三年的結果皆低於政府規範標準。

其他值得支持的理由
1.向阿輝買菜也就是支持台北近郊的農場，不僅維持都會區的綠地，也保護那裏的昆蟲、鳥類等動植物多樣性。
2.就地購買食物，可降低食物里程，減少運輸的能源消耗。
3.阿輝參與反對彈藥庫地區開發的計畫，而辭去原本較高薪的工作，支持他的農園也是在支持當地居民反對政府不當的開發，幫助台灣小型有機農場的存續。
4.彈藥庫地區是台灣數個環保團體合力保護的重要地區，支持當地居民也是抵抗財團和貪腐的政客。

事實上，量能付費原則不僅和博仲的經營方針「我們能支付給妳的永遠不夠」相契合，也符合尊重多元的綠色精神。不妨再看一次博仲關鍵書目「富足人生的原動力」中的例子，Jean描述她購買甘蔗的「交易」經驗，甘蔗商一直問她是否要再多拿些甘蔗，她不斷說好，直到她發現應該有個「合理的價格」，而那價格會因為每個人的需求和能力而有所不同。

Sliding scale fee structure is a way for a business or government agency to charge a fee that suits the ability of the customer or client’s ability or willingness to pay. This practice is relatively common in the US in some businesses and is in fact how the taxation system is structured. In Taiwan, it is also used in taxation and health care e.g., the more you make the more ability you have to support the system.

The main goal of instituting a sliding scale fee option is to make the product or service available to all, or nearly all who seeks it, regardless of income, and still operate a sound business. It is entirely acceptable in a sliding scale fee structure that one person pays a different amount than the next person.

Here are two ways that sliding scale fee option can work.

1. A more structured way:
A business or agency can set up a fee structure according to ability to pay based on income. A customer or client is required to pay a certain amount that the company or agency determines is reasonable for their them, taking into consideration all their needs and abilitiesbottom line. For instance, a person making $25,000 pays $15; $50,000 pays $30; and $100,000 pays $60, etc. This is a common practice in the healthcare system.

2. A much less structured way:
In the US, often at arts events and even an occasional restaurant, the sliding scale means that a person pays what s/he is able to and feels like paying. There is a suggested amount at the door, but one does NOT have to pay that amount. In this system, it is possible that a person of a lower income can actually pay more than a person of higher income. The amount you pay is based on your judgment of how much the product or service you are paying for is worth to you. It is not simply based on your ability to pay. It is also based on the honor system—that people will be honorable and not take advantage of the system, i.e., pay an “unreasonably” low price.

The well known US practitioner of CSA, Elizabeth Henderson’s CSA , offers a slightly different sliding scale fee structure. There are three options from which her CSA shareholders can choose. There is a “regular” share that is around $400. Those with a lower income may choose to pay around $200. Those with higher income can choose to pay $600. She informed us that with everyone paying at the level s/he chooses, the CSA has always been able to get an average of about $400 per share in the end, which is what the CSA requires to operate.

At WP-Ahui CSA, the Core Group would like to suggest that we adopt a version of a sliding scale fee structure that allows us to provide members with high-quality, ultra-fresh organic vegetables at the same time that we obtain a fair price for Ahui. Setting this price has been a laborious process. However, after many hours of discussion and research, the Core Group would like to recommend the following:

WP-Ahui CSA sliding scale fee structure:
A. No change. Pay current base price (the same as the price at the farm): NT$80 per jin
B. Pay suggested CSA price: NT$100 per jin
C. Pay any amount above $80 per jin. ________________________at least one person has stated they will pay the rate that Pierre charges
(This amount is anything above $80, could be $90, or $120 or …)

Comparison of some organic/no-toxin vegetables on the market.
(Prices are shown at per 100g for ease of comparison. For example, Ahui’s price is $80 per jin which is 600g. Each 100g is $13.3) More details are available, if desired.

Per 100g of vegetables (leafy greens) price sold at the farm, or store, NOT delivered

土城 阿輝 無毒 $13.3 (at farm) current price
家樂福 有機 $14 (at store)
新竹 鮮活有機 $14 (at 家樂福)
土城 阿輝 無毒 $16.7 (at CSA) suggested price
花蓮 壽豐無毒 $16-18 (website price, delivery extra)
烏來 福山 $18 (includes delivery, but I'm not 100% sure)
三芝 劉力學 無毒 $32 (at farm)

Reasons why WP-Ahui CSA members would want to buy Ahui’s vegetables.
The vegetables: Four obvious reasons that the vegetables are superior.
1. Ahui’s vegetables are ultra-fresh as they are picked on the same day that they are delivered and travel a very short distance between farm and you. It is likely the freshest and most nutritious you can buy.
2. Ahui’s soil is enriched with compost made with Liu Lixue’s (Pierre Loisel) composting methods using a wide range of food wastes. This compost is also known as “black gold” as it is the best soil amendment there is.
3. No chemical fertilizer or pesticides are ever applied.
4. The soil and vegetables are annually checked by農委會(?) for residues for heavy metals. For the last three years and they have shown amounts much lower than government standards.

Other worthy reasons you might consider:
1. Buying Ahui’s vegetables means supporting a farm just on the outskirts of Taipei city center. You help our metropolis retain more green space. Ahui’s farm provides a safe haven for insects and small animals alike, and hawks and herons are regularly seen flying above.
2. The short distance that the vegetables travel means that you are making a smaller carbon footprint buying these vegetables than those that traveled from Hsinchu, or Changhua, or Pingdong.
3. Ahui took a pay-cut to come back to farm the land at Tucheng Dan-yao-ku which is at risk of being developed by the City of Tucheng. He and his wife are supporting two children both requiring college tuition at this time. Ahui wants to make it financially working as a small organic farmer. By supporting Ahui’s farm, you are supporting the people of Dan-yao-ku area against the city’s push to develop this area, AND helping to keep more small organic farms alive in Taiwan.
4. the Tucheng area of Ahui’s farm is one of the major environmental protection projects for a number of groups in Taiwan, including the Green Party, Wild at Heart, OURS and so on. By supporting the residents of the area we are actually enhancing their ability to resist the developers and corrupt politicians.

In fact the sliding scale idea is very much in line with the WP policy of “we can never pay you enough” as well as the Greens ideas on promoting diversity. Also, take another look if you have time at one of WP’s core books “The Continuum Concept” (although Pierre didn’t care for the book!) where Jean describes her “transaction” involving her receiving sugar cane in an exchange and the supplier kept asking her if she would like more and she kept saying yes until she realized there is a “right price” but it could be different depending on a persons needs and abilities.