Gift Economies

Question 1

Marss

Answer 1

Functionalist thinker who pioneered the notion of Habitus. He focused upon total social phenomena led him to an analysis of exchange in non-market society.

Question 2

‘The Gift’

Answer 2

Was based upon secondary ethnographic data, drawn mainly from the Pacific islands.

Question 3

Potlatch

Answer 3

Mauss used this example to show how gift giving created relationships of indebtedness between people. The giving of the potlatch had to be reciprocated with interest, generally ranges from 30-100% a year.

Question 4

Reciprocity

Answer 4

Mauss defines this as the structuring principle of non-market economies.

Question 5

Reciprocity 2

Answer 5

It has strong powerful social effects, and encourages long term relationships between communities.

Question 6

Reciprocity 3

Answer 6

Even in market societies, the principle of Reciprocity also creates social relationships between givers and receivers.

Question 7

Reciprocity 4

Answer 7

A socially productive gift should embody something of the spirit of both parties.

Question 8

Spirit of the gift

Answer 8

Mauss placed this at the centre of the indirect Reciprocity, ferering to the maori notion of Hau- although the ethnographic particulars are misplaced.

Question 9

Mauss analysis

Answer 9

shows us that the exchange of inalienable gifts establishes relationships between people.

Question 10

Commodity exchanges

Answer 10

establish relationships between alienable things themselves, hense the use of money.