• BastingChemina@slrpnk.net
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    16 days ago

    Economist think that before the use of money barter was the main tool for economical exchange.

    In reality, barter is close to inexistent in tribal society, early society relies on the gift economy rather than barter.

    Rather than trading apples for spears, a person would distribute the extra apples they got to their neighbor, then of they need a spear they ask their neighbor of they can borrow their spear or if they could make one for him.

    I’m not sure of our was in the video or not but there is also a social expectation of reciprocity, so once a person give something to their neighbor, the neighbor then feel a responsibility to give something back. It works between tribes as well.

    (Talking about that, my neighbor has been giving me tomatoes all summer, I should make a cake for them)

    • gid
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      16 days ago

      Thank you, that makes sense. In the communities I participate in I’ve experienced a slight preference towards gift economy rather than explicit bartering, so this resonates with me.

      Your neighbor sounds great. If you do make them a cake, please let us know what you made!