"Pay It Forward is a book, but it's also an idea. It's an action plan within a work of fiction. But does it have to be fiction? We're hoping not. In fact, since the book was released in January of 2000, a real-life social movement has emerged, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. What began as a work of fiction has already become much more.

Reuben St. Clair, the teacher protagonist of the book Pay It Forward, starts a movement with this voluntary, extra-credit assignment: THINK OF AN IDEA FOR WORLD CHANGE, AND PUT IT INTO ACTION

Trevor, the 12-year-old hero of Pay It Forward, thinks of quite an idea. He describes it to his mother and teacher this way: "You see, I do something real good for three people. And then when they ask how they can pay it back, I say they have to Pay It Forward. To three more people. Each. So nine people get helped. Then those people have to do twenty-seven." He turned on the calculator, punched in a few numbers. "Then it sort of spreads out, see. To eighty-one. Then two hundred forty-three. Then seven hundred twenty-nine. Then two thousand, one hundred eighty-seven. See how big it gets?"

There is some technological and academic theory underpinning Pay if Forward. For example, a new understanding of Group Forming Networks is emerging on the Internet which may allow this kind of thinking to proliferate. If we connect networks of networks, the connectivity between them grows exponentially. If we add the "Pay it Forward" dynamic to the brew, we could find ourselves with the "activation energy" to trigger the cascade of uplift.

Economist Sam Bowles, from the Santa Fe Institute, has a lot to say about this from an economist's perspective is doing some wonderful research on the notion of altruism, that the standard economic model that the "rational consumer" is greedy and self-centered is not necessarily real. Perhaps it is traditional economists who are being greedy and self-centered.

Catherine pointed out an example of this:

" I am pleased to say that I’ve continued to be in touch with the Chris Bratseth, Erik Hanson, Val Litwin and Brad Stokes, the four young men who call themselves “The Kindness Crew” They have secured the necessary funding for their U.S. Tour. The dates remain to be announced, but it appears that the Pay it Forward Foundation will be helping in a small way.. rest assured, you will hear about them and their marathon acts of kindness. They have a great message, and great faces and spirits, and they have a way of getting media attention for their kindness cause. If you haven’t checked out their web site, please do yourself the favor. It will make you feel great."