Ap Economics Gift Exchange

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Recommended: The Gift Theory of Marcel Mauss

How do gift exchanges and commodity transactions shape your everyday interactions with others?
It is undeniable that in the 21st century economics is a key factor in the social world fitting together. Whilst commodity transactions are a well-accepted inclusion in the subject of economics gift exchange is less so. This is likely due to the supposed good intent that drives gift giving. However, renowned anthropologist Marcel Mauss proposes that gift exchange is in fact an obligatory and self-interested action, and is as such essentially an economic transaction akin to commodity transactions. Moreover, in his 1924 novel The Gift, Mauss proposed there are in fact three obligations that unconsciously govern how we give gifts: the obligation to …show more content…

Such occasions that an obligation arises include when a person you have a close relationship with achieves something such as a promotion, engagement or birthday. Mauss suggests that this obligation is fulfilled in order to maintain social relations, and that failure to do so may damage said relationships (Hendry, 1999; Mauss, 1996). In my experience one incident comes to mind in which a person failed to fulfill the obligation to give a gift. Last year as my friends and I were all turning eighteen we thought it would be a nice idea to each contribute in buying the same ring for everyone’s birthdays. However, throughout the year as more and more of my friends birthday’s passed and more people had each taken their turn in organizing another friends gift it became apparent that one girl had only contributed to a few peoples gifts. Understandably, this angered most people and damaged said girls relationship with all involved as her actions expressed a disinterest in the preservation of our relationships. Evidently, gift exchange impacts our everyday interactions as failure to comply with the associated obligations can damage a persons relationship and corresponding …show more content…

As such whilst these transactions may appear similar they are separate from any personification or meaning. This is apparent as in the purchases of both the maracas and tambourine, as well as the cupcakes, the parties involved did not know one another, merely as a shop assistant or customer. As such the parties involved are objectified and the exchange completely independent. This contrasts with the process of gift exchange in which a gift can be personified as the person who gave you the present and the intent behind their gift and it is a reciprocally dependent transaction. Evidently, while commodity exchange is quite similar in theory to gift exchange it lacks the same social obligations apparent in gift exchange and is as such impersonal and has less of an impact on our everyday

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