gift economics in the social era
DESCRIPTION
This presentation draws lessons from three common indigenous gift economies and relates them to online and offline sharing in the social eraTRANSCRIPT
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)