This presentation draws lessons from three common indigenous gift economies and relates them to online and offline sharing in the social era

1. Gift economics in
the social era
Tim Rayner
Philosophy for change
@timrayner01

5. Virtual potlatch

7. The more you
give, the richer
you become

9. Gift culture is
becoming
mainstream

10. Gift shift

17. Gift economics
• Gift economy: a social system based in the exchange of gifts
• Gifts are not necessarily free – there can be $$$ attached
• The cornerstone of gift economics: exchanges don’t involve
strict quid pro quo. The ‘return’ is in social capital:
reputation, status, or tribal solidarity

18. Gift economics
• Gifts are not necessarily free
• Gift exchanges involve no quid pro quo. The return is in
social capital: social reputation, status, or tribal solidarity
• This implies a different understanding of value and wealth

19. Modes of giving
1. Reputation games
Example: Potlatch (North America)
• Status through giving
– The more you give, the richer you become
• Building tribes
– Tribes based in shared values and interests
– No contradiction between altruism and self-interest

22. Modes of giving
2. Sharing circles
Example: Kula ring (Trobriand Islands)
• The spirit of the gift
– Reputation requires circulation of gifts
• Gift is ‘total prestation’ of tribe
• Trust: the gift must ‘go about the corner’ before it returns

24. Modes of giving
3. Tribaling
Example: Moka exchange (PNG)
• Reputation game
– Gifters leverage tribal networks
• Gift is ‘total prestation’ of tribe
– Moka (honour) based in networks of gifters

27. Modes of giving
• Reputation games, sharing circles, and tribaling
• Gift economics implies a different understanding of value
(based in relationships) and wealth (based in social capital)