Reciprocity and the Gift Economy

Anthropologists like Marcel Mauss described gifts as creating obligations to give, receive and return, forming the basis of many societies' exchange systems.

Gifts create bonds.

Three obligations

Mauss argued that gifts create duties to give, to receive and to reciprocate.

Potlatch

Some Native American communities held feasts where chiefs gave away wealth to gain status.

Modern echoes

Returning invitations, exchanging festival sweets and sharing favours.

Economics

Reciprocity builds trust where contracts are hard to enforce.

A returned favour

A neighbour who helped you move expects help in return someday.

Assuming gifts are purely selfless

They often carry expectations.

Key takeaways

Gifts create obligations.
Potlatch gave away wealth for status.
Reciprocity builds trust.
Expectations are common.