Reciprocity

In international relations and treaties, the principle of reciprocity states that favours, benefits, or penalties, granted by one state to the citizens or legal entities of another, should be returned in kind.

For example, reciprocity has been used in reducing tariffs, granting copyrights to foreign authors, and relaxing travel restrictions and visa requirements.

In Anthropology, reciprocity is a way of defining people's informal exchanges of goods and labor; that is, people's informal economic systems.

Generalized reciprocity is the same as virtually uninhibited sharing. It occurs when one person shares goods or labor with another person without expecting anything in return. In industrial society this occurs mainly between parents and children, or within married couples. In other cultures genrealized reciprocity can occur within entire clans or large kin groups. Between people who engage in generalized reciprocity, there is a maximum amount of trust and a minimum amount of social distance.

Balanced reciprocity occurs when someone gives to someone else expecting a return at some undefined future date. It is a very informal system of exchange. The expectation that the giver will be repaid is based on trust and social consequences; that is, a "mooch" who accepts gifts and favors without ever giving himself will find it harder and harder to obtain those favors. In industrial societies this can be found among relatives, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Balanced reciprocity involves a moderate amount of trust and social distance.

Negative reciprocity is what economists call barter. A person gives goods or labor and expects to be repaid immediately with some other goods or labor. This was the basis of all economies before the invention of money. Negative reciprocity can involve a minimum amount of trust and a maximum social distance; indeed, it can take place among strangers.

Reciprocity is only one way goods are exchanged; the other two are redistribution and the market.

See also: reciprocal