Economy and Subsistence II Flashcards
Define “modes of exchange”
The different methods of integrating economy and society in order to exchange material goods.
What are the three modes of exchange?
Reciprocity, redistribution, and market exchange.
Define reciprocity.
The mode of exchange where gifts are reciprocated between two groups.
What are the three types of reciprocity?
Generalized, balanced, and negative.
Define generalized reciprocity. Give an example.
The act of gifting without expecting a gift of the same value/something specific in return.
ex. Cooking for a neighbour when they give birth, buying and giving out Halloween candy.
Define balanced reciprocity. Give an example.
The act of gifting with the expectation that a gift of similar/equal value will be returned within a specific timeframe.
ex. The Kula ring system in the Trobriand Islands where islanders will travel to each others islands in order to exchange necklaces and arm bands in order to keep the societal peace between them.
Define negative reciprocity. Give an example.
When one party gives more than the other party involved in the exchange. “an attempt to get something for nothing”
ex. Gambling. Betting low and trying to win big.
Define redistribution.
A mode of exchange where goods are collected in order to be redistributed at a later date.
Define market exchange.
Mode of exchange regulated by supply and demand systems. They are social institutions that are based on transactions such as sales.
Define family farming.
Production of food for families own consumption rather than to sell. Can be sold at local markets tho.
Can enforce gender roles (men harvest crops, women clean them etc.)
Define horticulture.
Very small scale farming of crops.
What is a pure gift?
An extreme form of generosity where something is given and nothing is expected in return.
Ex. giving an organ
Define consumption.
Process of buying and using a resource, commodity or service.
What are social currencies? What are some examples.
Essentially replacements for money.
Can be objects like jewelry or shells, but can also be arranged marriages.
Often used to settle a debt that cannot be paid back.
What is the difference between balanced and unbalanced exchange?
Balanced exchange is where the goal is immediate or eventual balance in value (balanced reciprocity).
Unbalanced exchange is when one party attempts to make a profit, therefore no balance in value (negative reciprocity, redistribution, market).
What is trade and what is it used for?
The exchange of material good between two parties.
Can be used to maintain peace, establish connections, to gain access to resources that you cannot create/attain on your own.
Define baseline communism.
Where in a society, each individual gives what they can and only takes what they need.
Allowing for solidarity between individuals in a community, where their basic needs are not ignored.
One of Graeber’s 3 principles of moral relations.
What did David Graeber suggest about society?
That societies are always structured around 3 principles:
Basal communism, hierarchy, and exchange.
Define hierarchy.
One party in a society is superior to and has authority over another.
Define exchnage.
To provide goods and services and receive goods or services of approximately equal value in return.
Some may make exchange into a competition where they keep trying to outdo one another by giving gifts of increasing value.
What is a leveling mechanism?
A way to ensure that one party does not have more wealth than another.
Can be done by shaming people that have more wealth than others.
Define minimalism.
One of two modes of consumption.
Few and finite consumer demands that can be achieved.
Foragers, horticulturalists, pastoralists.
Define consumerism.
One of two modes of consumption.
Consumer demands are infinite and unattainable. Opens doors for colonialism and expansion.
What is foraging?
The oldest mode of subsistence.
Small, migrating, low density populations that only take what is needed.
Division of labour by gender.
Describe a potlach.
A ceremony in foraging societies that occur when the headman accumulates enough wealth to redistribute to the community.
Aims to ease tensions and keep peace.
Define economy.
A series of culturally specific practices used by members of a society to provide them with material wealth.
Define mode of livelihood.
Way of making a living/living within a culture largely based on given resources. (pastoralism, agriculture, foraging, horticulture, industrialism.)
What is extensive strategy?
Mode of livelihood requiring access to large areas on land and unrestricted population movement.
What is intensive strategy?
Mode of livelihood involving the same use of land and resources without losing its fertility.
What is mobile money?
Money used to make purchases via cell phone.
ex. apple pay
