At the moment, the Monoid instance for Data.Proxy.Proxy is only defined for types with kind *. Prelude Data.Proxy Data.Monoid> (Proxy :: Proxy String) <> Proxy Proxy Prelude Data.Proxy Data.Monoid> :set -XDataKinds Prelude Data.Proxy Data.Monoid> (Proxy :: Proxy 5) <> Proxy <interactive>:8:20: No instance for (Monoid (Proxy 5)) arising from a use of ‘<>’ In the expression: (Proxy :: Proxy 5) <> Proxy In an equation for ‘it’: it = (Proxy :: Proxy 5) <> Proxy Enabling -XPolyKinds while compiling the Data.Monoid module is the only change necessary to make the Monoid instance for Proxy polykinded like Proxy itself is. I don't believe adding a language pragma would have any other effect on that module, and I believe the only effect of changing that instance would be allowing more correct programs to compile. This is my first proposal to this list, so I'm starting with something that I hope isn't controversial. Let me know if I should do anything different procedurally in future proposals. Thanks.