In the social sciences, a gift economy (or gift culture) is a society where valuable goods and services are regularly given without any explicit agreement for immediate or future rewards (i.e. no formal quid pro quo exists).[1] Ideally, simultaneous or recurring giving serves to circulate and redistribute valuables within the community. The organization of a gift economy stands in contrast to a barter economy or a market economy. Informal custom governs exchanges, rather than an explicit exchange of goods or services for money or some other commodity.
Various social theories concerning gift economies exist. Some consider the gifts to be a form of reciprocal altruism. Another interpretation is that social status is awarded in return for the gifts.[2] Consider for example, the sharing of food in some hunter-gatherer societies, where food-sharing is a safeguard against the failure of any individual's daily foraging. This custom may reflect concern for the well-being of others, it may be a form of informal insurance, or may bring with it social status or other benefits.
This single page contains words and links related to the gift economy that have been posted here at Future Positive and at CommUnity of Minds. Also see: GIFTegrity, Read the Scientific Basis for the GIFTegrity, and the Specifications for a GIFTegrity.
"SomaFM is independent, commercial-free internet radio, with 18 unique channels featuring underground electronica, chillout, ambient, downtempo, lounge, space music, indie rock and alt.country/americana. All hand-picked by SomaFM's award-winning DJs and music directors."
Very cool, Frank - http://somafm.com/articles/ - very nice demo of Joan LaBarbara's music. Nice articulation (t-shirts, free, but paid for some attention (a la Kurt and FishMan!) Cool Find, Frank.
NO worries Jack,
I love these guys. I have been free riding them since '98, with a large amount of guilt and a plan to compensate them strongly when I am able. They are really mature as a station, so they are doing something right.
Fair Outcomes, Inc. provides parties involved in disputes or difficult negotiations with access to newly developed proprietary systems that allow fair and equitable outcomes to be achieved with remarkable efficiency. Each of these systems is grounded in mathematical theories of fair division and of games.
Our founders and staff include game theorists, computer scientists, and practicing attorneys with extensive experience in designing, administering, utilizing, and providing consulting and online services with respect to such systems.
Further information about our company and our services may be obtained by using the contact information appearing on this page. Additional information about four of our systems can be obtained by clicking on the links appearing below:
Welcome to the Home Page of the Fair Buy-Sell System. This system is used by joint owners of property-such as business partners, joint venturers, shareholders, and married couples-who wish to bring their joint ownership to an end on terms that are mutually acceptable and legally enforceable.
This page allows you to access a simplified version of the system that we are offering to the public free of charge. If you are a joint owner of property and wish to use the system, or if you simply wish to run a free test to see how it works, you can do so by clicking on Issue an Invitation. To respond to another party's initiation of the System, click on Respond to an Invitation. A summary of the system and the involved process appears below.