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)