I’m curious if blockchain would facilitate trusting support networks in a local community.

In this case, something along the lines of a skills exchange that allows people to contribute their skills with labor hours being the main currency.

Scenario 1 (Perfect Reciprocity):

Person A does gardening for Person B with a material cost of $100 (paid by Person B)  and a labor input of 10 hours.

In exchange for Person A’s labor, Person B can only offer computer repair services, but Person A doesn’t need these services. Instead, Person A needs exterior painting with a material cost of $75 and an approximate labor input of 10 hours.

Person C does exterior painting. Person A connects with Person C to direct 10 hours of owed labor to Person A in exchange for 10 hours of Person A’s labor to Person C.

Scenario 2 (Partial Reciprocity):

Let’s say Person A (gardening) spends 10 hours of labor on Person B and Person A doesn’t need anything from Person B (computer services). Person A connects Person B with Person C (exterior painting), and the labor input only came out to 4 hours of painting with 6 hours left over.

The following balances remain from scenario 2:

Person A is entitled to 6 hours of Person B’s referrals or computer services. Also owes 4 hours to Person C through referrals or gardening.

Person B owes 6 hours to Person A and 4 hours to Person C through referrals or computer services.

Person C is entitled to 4 hours of Person A’s referrals or gardening labor.

Scenario 2 Insights:

Person A:
Receivable: 6
Owed: 4
Net: +2

Person B:
Receivable: 0
Owed: 10
Net: -10

Person C:
Receivable: 4
Owed: 0
Net +4