The idea that a natural economy may compete with the artificial one
sounds like, "The Great Simolean Caper", again (and _Diamond Age_ for
that matter. That is probably a more feasible way to get from here to
there than trying to tinker with the mainstream economy.
You mention that the alife simulations favor long-lived organisms. I
thought that evolution was neutral towards longevity, or is that only
assuming that the organism has outlived its reproductive years (meno-
pause in women, men trying to save up for retirement?).
Sean