Exchange Flashcards
two ways to define economy
systemic and actor-centered
systemic economy
the economy as the production, distribution, and consumption of material and non-material valuables in society
actor-centered economy
the ways in which actors use the available means to maximize value
three modes of exchange
reciprocity, redistribution, and market exchange
reciprocity
equal trade; most ancient form of exchange, found in Egalitarian societies
three types of reciprocity
generalized, balanced, negative
generalized reciprocity
exchange without expecting an immediate return, usually between close kin
balanced reciprocity
return exchange of equal value is expected within a reasonable amount of time; between more distant kin, friends and neighbors
negative reciprocity
exchange of goods or services where one party attempts to come out at an advantage over the other; usually between strangers and enemies
Sahlins
friends makes gifts, and gifts make friends
criteria for a gift
absence of fixed price, return gift should not be given at once
Mauss
gift giving creates webs of vague obligations on the part of large numbers of people; power in a gift
the glue of society
reciprocity
potlatch, reciprocity and power
northwestern coast of North America; prosperous hunting and fishing groups, aristocrats continuously had to defend their rank by giving spectacular gifts to each other
potlatch
competitive gift exchange, destructive exchange
gifts and power
mutual obligations created through reciprocity are not necessarily beneficial to everyone involved
redistribution
leaders received economic contributions from all members of the group, then redistribute them in order to provide for every member of the group
market exchange
exchange that is mediated by currency through a market system; emerged in a capitalist society
money as information technology
money as a game changer in social relationships; market principles of supply and demand replace rules of right and wrong
characteristics of money
impersonal and anonymous, can be accumulated and invested, makes communication and exchange on a vast scale possible
consumption and globalization
while consumption creates differences and differentiation, it also creates social solidarity and reinforces social ties and cultural meanings
mcdonalds experience
different menu items, seen differently in different cultures
