Agency-Enabling Policy InitiativeA framework for designing and evaluating public policies that maximize individual capacity for self-direction and personal responsibility by creating enabling infrastructure rather than dependency-creating programs.This performance plan operationalizes the insight from WSJ article "We Asked What Makes You an Economic Optimist. Here's What You Said." ^^ Research shows economic optimism correlates more strongly with internal locus of control than with economic conditions or resources. The 77% of Americans who are economic pessimists may be responding rationally to policies that inadvertently cultivate learned helplessness by emphasizing victimhood, external causation, and dependency. ^^ The plan establishes evaluation framework for distinguishing enabling infrastructure (which expands choice, rewards effort, and preserves agency) from dependency-creating programs (which prescribe outcomes, remove choice, and attribute success to external forces). Performance indicators track whether policies strengthen or weaken the internal locus of control that characterizes economic optimists. Key measurement innovation is tracking psychological and behavioral indicators (locus of control, effort-outcome correlation, belief that work matters) alongside traditional economic metrics. If policy succeeds at enabling agency, both sets of metrics should improve. ^^ If policy inadvertently creates dependency, economic metrics might improve while psychological metrics deteriorate - revealing that short-term material gains come at cost of long-term capability. ^^ This plan was developed February 16, 2026 in response to recognition that traditional policy evaluation focuses on inputs and immediate outputs while ignoring impact on individual agency. The framework could inform implementation of GPRAMA Section 10 machine-readable strategic plans and serve as model for agency-enabling policy design across sectors. ^^ AI assistance credit: This StratML document was drafted in collaboration with Claude (Anthropic) based on analysis of Wall Street Journal article and subsequent discussion about relationship between pessimism, agency, and policy design. ^^ It has been edited in the XForm at https://stratml.us/forms2/Part2Form.xmlAgency-Enabling Policy InitiativeAEPIurn:uuid:b2c3d4e5-f6a7-4b5c-9d0e-1f2a3b4c5d6eCross-sector initiative to reform public policy around enabling personal agency rather than creating dependencyA society where all individuals have maximum capacity for self-direction, supported by infrastructure that makes personal responsibility easier rather than replacing iturn:uuid:c3d4e5f6-a7b8-4c5d-0e1f-2a3b4c5d6e7fTo design and implement public infrastructure that reduces friction for individuals to help themselves while expanding their feasible choice set and preserving dignityurn:uuid:d4e5f6a7-b8c9-4d5e-1f2a-3b4c5d6e7f8aPersonal AgencyIndividuals have meaningful control over their life outcomes through their choices and effortsOpportunity InfrastructurePublic policy should create platforms and remove barriers rather than prescribing outcomes or creating passive dependencyDignity through ChoicePreserving individual choice and self-direction maintains dignity even when providing supportVoluntary CoordinationEnable transparent coordination among willing participants rather than coercive central planningEconomic AgencyCreate economic infrastructure that enables individuals to build wealth through their own effort and judgmenturn:uuid:c9d0e1f2-a3b4-425d-6e7f-8a9b0c1d2e3f1Based on evidence that economic optimists attribute success to internal locus of control and benefit from platforms like stock markets, retirement accounts, and entrepreneurial infrastructure. Goal is to democratize access to wealth-building tools while preserving the agency and discipline that make them effective.InvestmentDemocratize Investment Accessurn:uuid:d0e1f2a3-b4c5-435e-7f8a-9b0c1d2e3f4a1.1Ensure all individuals can easily access compound growth through stock market investing and retirement accounts ^^ Currently only 52% of economic pessimists invest in stocks versus 75% of optimists. Democratizing access to long-term investing platforms may shift outlooks and outcomes. Focus on removing friction (automatic enrollment, low-fee index funds, simplified interfaces) rather than mandating participation.1.1.1HouseholdsPercentageurn:uuid:e1f2a3b4-c5d6-445f-8a9b-0c1d2e3f4a5bPLACEHOLDER_1[To be described]StatusHouseholds with income under $60K who have tax-advantaged retirement accountsBaseline452025-01-012025-12-31Increasing652026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-311.1.2Account FeesPercentageurn:uuid:b4c5d6e7-f8a9-475c-1d2e-3f4a5b6c7d8ePLACEHOLDER_2Target is to bring retail investor fees in line with institutional investor costs through regulatory reform and platform innovation.StatusAverage account fees paid by retail investors as percentage of assets0.752025-01-012025-12-31Decreasing0.152026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31High fees erode compound returns and create barrier to entry. Entrepreneurial FrictionReduce Entrepreneurial Frictionurn:uuid:e7f8a9b0-c1d2-4a5f-4a5b-6c7d8e9f0a1b1.2Reduce friction for individuals to start businesses, create products, and generate income through their own initiative ^^ Inspired by Mark Myshatyn's observation that "it has never been easier for private individuals to solve huge challenges with little to no startup capital." Goal is to expand access to tools, platforms, and legal frameworks that enable small-scale entrepreneurship without requiring deep financing or fleet of lawyers.1.2.1Business DaysNumberurn:uuid:f8a9b0c1-d2e3-4b5a-5b6c-7d8e9f0a1b2cPLACEHOLDER_3Time required to incorporate an LLC ~ Same-day incorporation reduces barrier to entry for would-be entrepreneurs. Status12025-01-012025-12-31...Baseline142025-01-012025-12-31...Reduced12026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31Measurement tracks median time from application to approval across all states.1.2.2Business Licenses/Permits CostUS Dollarsurn:uuid:c1d2e3f4-a5b6-4e5d-8e9f-0a1b2c3d4e5fPLACEHOLDER_4Reduce the average cost to obtain necessary business licenses and permits for low-risk home-based businessStatus2025-01-012025-12-31...Baseline8502025-01-012025-12-31...Reduced2002026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31High regulatory compliance costs act as regressive tax on small entrepreneurs who lack capital. Target represents streamlined, risk-based licensing that maintains safety without creating artificial barriers.HousingEnable Housing Constructionurn:uuid:f4a5b6c7-d8e9-415a-1b2c-3d4e5f6a7b8c1.3Enable housing construction through zoning reform and reduced regulatory friction rather than subsidizing demand ^^ Article identifies housing costs as major source of pessimism. Traditional approach of subsidizing demand (housing vouchers, down payment assistance) bids up prices in supply-constrained markets. Agency-enabling approach removes barriers to supply, allowing individuals to build, buy, or rent based on their own choices and resources.1.3.1Housing UnitsNumberurn:uuid:a5b6c7d8-e9f0-425b-2c3d-4e5f6a7b8c9dPLACEHOLDER_5Increase the number of housing unitsStatus2025-01-012025-12-31Housing units constructed per 1000 population growth in major metro areasBaseline7502025-01-012025-12-31...Increased12002026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31When housing supply keeps pace with population growth, prices stabilize and individuals can more easily find housing matching their budget through their own choices rather than requiring subsidies or waiting lists.1.3.2Residential Project ApprovalsMonthsurn:uuid:d8e9f0a1-b2c3-455e-5f6a-7b8c9d0e1f2aPLACEHOLDER_6Streamlined, predictable permitting enables more construction without sacrificing safety or quality standards.Status2025-01-012025-12-31Median time from building permit application to approval for residential projectsBaseline182025-01-012025-12-31...Descreasing42026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31Lengthy approval processes add carrying costs and uncertainty, reducing housing supply.Educational AgencyEnable individuals to acquire valuable skills and credentials through multiple pathways based on their strategic choicesurn:uuid:a1b2c3d4-e5f6-485b-8c9d-0e1f2a3b4c5d2Multiple optimists expressed skepticism about traditional higher education while benefiting from strategic education choices. Branden Alsbach notes "a college degree used to be much more competitive in the job market." Gary Durst emphasizes practical certifications over art history degrees. Goal is to expand educational pathways while making transparent the return-on-investment of different choices.Educational ROIMake Educational ROI Transparenturn:uuid:b2c3d4e5-f6a7-495c-9d0e-1f2a3b4c5d6e2.1Make educational return-on-investment transparent so individuals can make informed strategic choices about skill acquisition ^^ If individuals could easily see median earnings by degree/certification and debt burden, they could make more strategic choices. Transparency enables agency; opacity forces either blind faith or paralysis.2.1.1Percentage of degree programs publicly reporting median earnings of graduates at 1, 5, and 10 years post-graduationPercentageurn:uuid:c3d4e5f6-a7b8-4a5d-0e1f-2a3b4c5d6e7fPLACEHOLDER_7Increase the percentage of degree programs publicly reporting median earnings of graduatesStatus2025-01-012025-12-31Percentage of degree programs publicly reporting median earnings of graduates at 1, 5, and 10 years post-graduationBaseline352025-01-012025-12-31...952026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31Earnings transparency enables strategic decision-making about education investment. Students can weigh expected returns against costs and alternative paths.2.1.2Degree ProgramsPercentageurn:uuid:f6a7b8c9-d0e1-4d5a-3b4c-5d6e7f8a9b0cPLACEHOLDER_8Enable informed comparison of education pathways.StatusPercentage of degree programs publicly reporting median student debt at graduationBaseline402025-01-012025-12-31...952026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31Debt burden transparency prevents students from unknowingly making ruinous financial decisions.Alternative PathwaysExpand Alternative Pathwaysurn:uuid:c9d0e1f2-a3b4-405d-6e7f-8a9b0c1d2e3f2.2Expand access to apprenticeships, vocational training, and credential programs as viable alternatives to traditional degrees ^^ Gary Durst emphasized strategic pursuit of certifications most likely to help career. Goal is to make multiple education pathways equally accessible and valued, allowing individuals to choose based on their aptitudes, interests, and strategic calculation rather than following single prescribed route.2.2.1ApprenticeshipsNumberurn:uuid:d0e1f2a3-b4c5-415e-7f8a-9b0c1d2e3f4aPLACEHOLDER_9Apprenticeships provide earn-while-you-learn pathway to skills without debt burden. Expanding availability gives students more strategic options.Status2025-01-012025-12-31Number of registered apprenticeships per 1000 high school graduatesBaseline252025-01-012025-12-31...Increased1002026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-312.2.2Job PostingsPercentageurn:uuid:a3b4c5d6-e7f8-445b-0c1d-2e3f4a5b6c7dPLACEHOLDER_10Employers value skills over credentials and individuals gain flexibility in how they acquire competencies, thereby reducing artificial barriers and expanding strategic options.Status2025-01-012025-12-31Percentage of job postings that accept industry certifications in lieu of bachelor's degree for positionsBaseline302025-01-012025-12-31Increased602026-01-012026-12-31[To be determined]TBD2026-01-012026-12-31 Agency MeasurementDevelop and track metrics that reveal whether policies are enabling agency or creating dependencyurn:uuid:e7f8a9b0-c1d2-425f-4a5b-6c7d8e9f0a1b3Traditional policy metrics measure inputs (spending) or immediate outputs (benefits distributed) but rarely measure whether policies strengthen or weaken individual agency. This goal establishes evaluation framework for distinguishing enabling infrastructure from dependency-creating programs.ControlTrack Locus of Controlurn:uuid:f8a9b0c1-d2e3-435a-5b6c-7d8e9f0a1b2c3.1Track population-level shifts in internal versus external locus of control as key indicator of policy effectiveness ^^ Article shows optimists consistently demonstrate internal locus of control ("I believe in personal agency," "You're the captain of your own ship"). This is measurable through validated psychological instruments. Policies that increase dependency should show decreasing internal locus of control; enabling policies should show increases or stability.3.1.1AdultsPercentageurn:uuid:a9b0c1d2-e3f4-445b-6c7d-8e9f0a1b2c3dPLACEHOLDER_11Enable agencyStatus2025-01-012025-12-31Percentage of adults scoring high on internal locus of control (Rotter scale or equivalent)Baseline422025-01-012025-12-31...552030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]TBD2030-01-012030-12-31Internal locus of control predicts economic optimism and success. If policy reforms are effective at enabling agency, this metric should trend upward. Measured through periodic representative surveys using validated instruments.ChoiceMeasure Choice Expansionurn:uuid:d2e3f4a5-b6c7-475e-9f0a-1b2c3d4e5f6a3.2Measure whether policies expand individuals' feasible choice sets rather than prescribing outcomes ^^ Enabling policies increase options available to individuals; dependency-creating policies reduce choices by doing things for people or creating benefit cliffs. This objective tracks whether policy reforms expand or contract individual agency.3.2.1Occupational Licenses/CredentialsCounturn:uuid:e3f4a5b6-c7d8-485f-0a1b-2c3d4e5f6a7bPLACEHOLDER_12Reduce the number of occupational licenses or credentials required to practice professions (lower is better for agency)StatusReduce2025-01-012025-12-31...Baseline12002025-01-012025-12-31Reduced6002030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]TBD2030-01-012030-12-31Unnecessary licensing requirements artificially restrict entry to professions, limiting individual choices about how to earn living. Reduction indicates expansion of opportunity while maintaining safety for truly risk-relevant professions.3.2.2BenefitsPercentageurn:uuid:b6c7d8e9-f0a1-4b5c-3d4e-5f6a7b8c9d0ePLACEHOLDER_13Smooth phase-outs to preserve work incentives.StatusSmoothed Out2025-01-012025-12-31Percentage of means-tested benefits with effective marginal tax rates above 50% (benefit cliff indicator)Baseline652025-01-012025-12-31...Reduced102030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]TBD2030-01-012030-12-31Benefit cliffs punish earning more money, creating perverse incentives against effort and advancement. High effective marginal tax rates indicate programs that trap people rather than enabling upward mobility. Reform should smooth phase-outs to preserve work incentives.ReturnsAssess Effort Returnsurn:uuid:e9f0a1b2-c3d4-4e5f-6a7b-8c9d0e1f2a3b3.3Track whether increased effort and good judgment actually improve outcomes, or whether systems create randomness disconnected from behavior ^^ Article notes many Americans believe hard work isn't rewarded as it once was. If systems create too much noise between effort and outcomes (lottery-based housing allocation, credential inflation, arbitrary licensing), people rationally become pessimistic. Metrics should reveal whether effort reliably produces returns.3.3.1Work/Income MobilityCorrelation Coefficienturn:uuid:f0a1b2c3-d4e5-4f5a-7b8c-9d0e1f2a3b4cPLACEHOLDER_14Increase the correlation between hours worked and income mobility (controlling for occupation)StatusIncrease2025-01-012025-12-31Correlation between hours worked and income mobility (controlling for occupation)Baseline0.352025-01-012025-12-31...Increased0.502030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]TBD2030-01-012030-12-31Higher correlation indicates effort is rewarded. Lower correlation suggests arbitrary or structural barriers disconnect work from outcomes. Track over time to evaluate whether policy changes strengthen or weaken effort-outcome relationship.3.3.2AdultsPercentageurn:uuid:c3d4e5f6-a7b8-425d-0e1f-2a3b4c5d6e7fPLACEHOLDER_15Increase the percentage of adults who agree "hard work and good judgment usually lead to better outcomes"StatusIncrease2025-01-012025-12-31...Baseline482025-01-012025-12-31...Increased702030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]TBD2030-01-012030-12-31Belief that effort matters is prerequisite for people to invest effort. If policy succeeds at enabling agency and strengthening effort-outcome connections, this metric should increase. Declining trend would indicate policy is inadvertently fostering learned helplessness.Coordination InfrastructureEnable transparent, voluntary coordination among individuals and organizations without coercion or central planningurn:uuid:f6a7b8c9-d0e1-435a-3b4c-5d6e7f8a9b0c4Traditional government programs often work through command-and-control or redistribution. Agency-enabling approach creates infrastructure for voluntary coordination where individuals can see others' goals and choose alignment. StratML and similar frameworks make strategic plans machine-readable, enabling coordination without coercion.TransparencyIncrease Strategic Transparencyurn:uuid:a7b8c9d0-e1f2-445b-4c5d-6e7f8a9b0c1d4.1Increase adoption of machine-readable strategic plans that allow voluntary coordination around shared goals ^^ GPRAMA Section 10 requires federal agencies to publish machine-readable strategic plans by February 2026. Extending this to state/local governments and nonprofits would create infrastructure for transparent coordination. Individuals could align their efforts with organizations pursuing goals they support.4.1.1Agencies & NonprofitsNumberurn:uuid:b8c9d0e1-f2a3-455c-5d6e-7f8a9b0c1d2ePLACEHOLDER_16Ensure that government agencies and major nonprofits publish StratML-compliant strategic plansStatusPublishing2025-01-012025-12-31Number of government agencies and major nonprofits publishing StratML-compliant strategic plansBaseline02025-01-012025-12-31...Increased50002030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]TBD2030-01-012030-12-31Machine-readable strategic plans enable individuals to discover organizations working on goals they care about, facilitating voluntary coordination. Growth in adoption creates network effects as coordination becomes easier.ContributionsEnable Voluntary Contributionurn:uuid:e1f2a3b4-c5d6-485f-8a9b-0c1d2e3f4a5b4.2Enable tax-creditable contributions to public good organizations as alternative to traditional taxation ^^ Transparent Wealth Stewardship Initiative (TWSI) framework allows individuals to direct tax dollars to certified Public Good Organizations rather than having government allocate all spending. Preserves individual agency in supporting public goods while maintaining revenue for essential functions.4.2.1Tax RevenuePercentageurn:uuid:f2a3b4c5-d6e7-495a-9b0c-1d2e3f4a5b6cPLACEHOLDER_17Enable individuals to direct tax-creditable contributions to certified Public Good Organizations of their choiceStatusEnabled2025-01-012025-12-31...Baseline02025-01-012025-12-31Percentage of tax liabilities that may be directed to PGOsEnabled252030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]2030-01-012030-12-31Pilot program allowing taxpayers to direct portion of liability to certified organizations would test whether voluntary coordination can supplement coercive taxation. Maintains revenue while expanding individual agency over public goods provision.4.2.2PGOsNumberurn:uuid:c5d6e7f8-a9b0-4c5d-2e3f-4a5b6c7d8e9fPLACEHOLDER_18Authorize certified Public Good Organizations eligible to receive tax-creditable contributionStatusAuthorized2025-01-012025-12-31Number of certified Public Good Organizations eligible to receive tax-creditable contributions02025-01-012025-12-31...Eligible100002030-01-012030-12-31[To be determined]TBD2030-01-012030-12-31Certification framework would identify organizations meeting transparency, effectiveness, and public benefit criteria. More certified options increase individual choice in supporting public goods that align with their values and strategic vision.urn:uuid:1a2b3c4d-5e6f-4a5b-8c9d-0e1f2a3b4c5d2026-02-162030-12-312026-02-16https://stratml.us/docs/AEPI.xmlurn:uuid:2b3c4d5e-6f7a-4b5c-9d0e-1f2a3b4c5d6eOwenAmburowen.ambur@verizon.net