The Gift Economy

I came across this concept recently in my travels. It completely appeals to me ... and as a Christian I think it has inherent Christian overtones and invokes the basis of the early church really.

Here's the definition from (appropriately) Wikipedia :)

A gift economy is an economic system in which goods and services are given without any agreement for immediate or future compensation. This differs from a barter economy - in which there is an immediate or expected quid pro quo (the Latin term for the concept of "a favor for a favor").

Typically, a gift economy occurs in a culture which emphasizes social or intangible rewards for generosity: karma, honor, loyalty or other forms of gratitude. In some cases simultaneous or recurring gifting serves to circulate and redistribute valuables within a community. This can be considered a form of reciprocal altruism. In other cases, gifting is done without implicit expectation of reciprocation.

One of the possible benefits of a gift economy is that it can provide for the needs of some who have no current means with which to reciprocate. For example, if some in a society are so poor as to have nothing material to barter and no goods or money to bring to market, they can still receive charity if sufficient resources exist. Similarly, in the vast majority of societies, parents support their children at least in early childhood (and, in some societies, into adolescence and adulthood) without any explicit negotiation of what is expected in exchange.

Isn't that wonderful???

~ Shirley