http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html
You might not think this much related to an "alternative financial
system", but its intimately related. Watch this video and see what
science says works for motivating people to solve problems creatively
and quickly. Then consider how our society puts "huge risk/rewards"
into the hands of individuals or small groups of individuals--chances
are, they're not going to do very well.