gift economics in the social era
Post on 08-May-2015
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Gift economics in the social era
Tim Rayner
Philosophy for change
@timrayner01
Virtual potlatch
The more you give, the richer
you become
Gift culture is becoming
mainstream
Gift shift
Gift economics• Gift economy: a social system based in the exchange of gifts
• Gifts are not necessarily free – there can be $$$ attached
• The cornerstone of gift economics: exchanges don’t involve
strict quid pro quo. The ‘return’ is in social capital:
reputation, status, or tribal solidarity
Gift economics• Gifts are not necessarily free
• Gift exchanges involve no quid pro quo. The return is in
social capital: social reputation, status, or tribal solidarity
• This implies a different understanding of value and wealth
Modes of giving1. Reputation games
Example: Potlatch (North America)
• Status through giving
– The more you give, the richer you become
• Building tribes
– Tribes based in shared values and interests
– No contradiction between altruism and self-interest
Modes of giving2. Sharing circles
Example: Kula ring (Trobriand Islands)
• The spirit of the gift
– Reputation requires circulation of gifts
• Gift is ‘total prestation’ of tribe
• Trust: the gift must ‘go about the corner’ before it returns
Modes of giving3. Tribaling
Example: Moka exchange (PNG)
• Reputation game
– Gifters leverage tribal networks
• Gift is ‘total prestation’ of tribe
– Moka (honour) based in networks of gifters
Modes of giving• Reputation games, sharing circles, and tribaling
• Gift economics implies a different understanding of value
(based in relationships) and wealth (based in social capital)
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