10 - Reciprocity in the modes of economic realization

Summary

Science – and simple understanding – begin with the distinction and classification of phenomena, in pointing out the critical discriminating properties. Approaching a social process from the point of view of economics means beginning with “transfers.” In the strict sense, the term “transfer” denotes the ordinary transfer of a good from one agent to another, but, by extension and for convenience of vocabulary, it will also denote, here, a service provided by one agent to another, and, more generally, any change in the world that is both costly in some sense for an agent and favourable to another. This can be an act of the former agent. Hence, transferring can mean acting favourably; giving can refer to such an act; and taking can mean forcing the other person to perform such an act. The distinction and comparison of the various modalities and modes of transfer are particularly important for understanding society. With respect to types of social relation and motivations, four types of modes of transfer can be distinguished: taking by force (forcing); gift giving; exchange; and reciprocity. As before, exchange is understood here as standard exchange between self-interested agents (as with market exchange); that is, a set of transfers that are mutually conditional (implementation is by external obligation, or by promise keeping, or if it is by moral obligation alone, this is an obligation to abide by an agreement, and not, for instance, to give in return).