The Self-Running Economy

The Self-Running Economy offers a clear, authoritative guide to the economic shift now underway as AI agents and autonomous systems move from supporting work to actively shaping it. Quentin G. Dalton explains, in plain language, how autonomy differs from automation, why the change is accelerating, and which parts of the economy are most likely to become partially or fully self-running. Readers will gain a practical framework for understanding the new economic stack, from data, cloud infrastructure, and chips to APIs, digital wallets, and programmable payments. The book also examines how agent-to-agent coordination could alter market behavior, how tasks and roles may be reorganized as labor becomes optional in many functions, and how management, supervision, and performance measurement may evolve. Written for business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and informed general readers, this book delivers a big-picture view of the opportunities and risks created by machine-driven commerce. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand how autonomy may reshape work, wealth, and global power.