How public decisions become ownership decisions: Tracing who captures the assets, appreciation, and long-term value created by government action

Neutrality is an allocation. Not imposing an ownership condition does not produce an unallocated outcome — it leaves the default in place. This is the fourth paper in IIBD's Community Wealth Infrastructure series. It identifies the public decisions through which assets, appreciation, risk, control, and intergenerational value are allocated. Part of the Community Wealth Infrastructure Series (Working Paper No. 4), published by IIBD. Suggested citation: Williams, R., & Dillon, D. (2026). How public decisions become ownership decisions: Tracing who captures the assets, appreciation, and long-term value created by government action (Community Wealth Infrastructure Series, Working Paper No. 4). IIBD.