chapter 7 Flashcards
economics
the academic discipline that studies systems of production, distribution, and consumption typically in the industrialized world.
why is economics important
allocation of resources is necessary for human survival
classic economic theory assumption
- equilibrium can be reached
2. individuals will always try to maximize profits
economic anthropology
goes beyond supply and demand and the maximization of profits. It is cultural comparisons of processes of production, distribution, and consumption
anthropological approach to economics
- cultural and social context f in which people act
- social and kinship relationships
- ideas and attitudes that shape economic behaviour
Karl Polanyi
economic anthropologist who divided economics into 3 types of modes of distribution
Polanyi 3 types of economic distribution
- Reciprocity- return of a gift
- Redistribution- collection from members of a group ad then redistribution within this group
- Market- money and profits
society’s economy consists of 3 things
production, distribution/exchange, consumption
Production
process of obtaining resources from the natural environment and turning them into goods
exchange
the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another
importance of exchange
exchange establishes and maintains social relationships
units of production non/industrialized societies
non-industrialized- households
industrialized- private firms
division of labour
the assignment of day-to-day tasks to the various members of a society
labour specialization
the extent to which productive activities are divided among the members of a society
subsistence strategy
the pattern a society uses to obtain food
5 food procurement categories
- foraging- hunting-gathering
- horticulture- small-scale cultivation
- Pastoralism- breeding and caring for animals
- intensive agriculture- complex form of agriculture, animal herding
- industrial agriculture- relies on complex machinery
gift giving is associated with
class, social mobility, matrimony, patronage, employment, manufacturing processes, issues of style, conventions of gift-giving
gift exchange vs. market laws
gift exchange is not a process that goes along with market laws, but with social rules of power, etiquette, status..
Marcel Mauss
anthropologist who talks about gifts
3 obligations of gifts
to give, receive, and reciprocate
Rules of gift giving
- obligations are kept because both sides benefit from giving and receiving
- it takes place between not individuals but groups of people
the principle of reciprocity
- equivalent return is expected. Society is created by endless exchange of in which everyone pursues their own advantage.
- equaling an unequal relationship is what maintains the system
- its a material transaction
- nature of the relationship governs the type of exchange
Generalized Reciprocity
gift giving without expecting a gift in return- considered the most moral sort of gift giving
balanced reciprocity
the practice of gift giving with the expectation that a similar gift will be reciprocated after a period of time.
negative reciprocity
form of exchange between equals in which the parties attempt to take advantage of each other/get the better deal i.e bargaining
Marshal Sahlins
anthropologist who contributed to principles of reciprocity
Kula Ring
inter-island system of exchange of ritual objects
- ritual objects are a temporary symbol of prestige
Redistribution
mode of distribution in which members of a group give their goods to a central authority and the authority redistributes the goods back to the people
effects of redistribution
- maintains power, superior status
- maintains a standard of living
- use wealth to leverage power
chiefly redistribution or tribute
goods given to the chief as the peoples allegations and the chief redistributes this in the form of a feast.
Potlatch
a gift-giving ceremony among first nations. Serves as a symbol of status and distribution of goods
market exchange
mode of distribution in which goods are bought and sold, value is determined by supply and demand
principles of market exchange
- value is present by impersonal market forces
2. exchange is independent of social relations
informal economy
exchanges unregulated by formal institutions i.e illegal exchanges
Money
a generally accepted medium of exchange that acts as a standard of value.
characteristics of foragers
- gathering, hunting, fishing
- survive in an environment not suitable for food production
- 30-50 people
- no ties to any particular piece of land
- emphasis on sharing stuff
- informal leadership/egalitarian, minor distinctions in status
- individual possessions is not emphasized
- not specialization
characteristics of horticulture
- slash-and-burn agriculture
- land cultivation, not tied to the land
- relatively settled
- women are the main producers
Characteristics of pastoralists
- nomadic
- diet: blood and milk
- all members of pastoralists follow the herds
Transhumance
seasonal movement of animals between upland and lowland pastures
Characteristics of agriculture
- intense cultivation of the land
- domesticated animals used for labour
- irrigation systems
costs and benefits of agriculture
- costs: more labour,
- benefits: long-term stable production=population increase
cultural structures vs survival culture
the more situated, and stable the survival culture the more complex the social structures and institutions and the less egalitarian they become and vise versa
