Gifting, Reciprocity, Savings, and Credit in Peasant Oaxaca

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The traditional peasant economy of Oaxaca, Mexico, recognizes gifting and reciprocity as well as systems of savings and credit. Both spontaneous and ritual gifting use economic goods to create or maintain social ends. In this case reciprocity is informal but necessary to continue the social functions of gifting. Formal systems of reciprocity also exist; they are related to social ends but involve equal returns in kind. Formal reciprocity is also recognized as a means of savings or of obtaining credit to facilitate the meeting of social obligations or to enhance social capital. Reciprocity is distinguished from other systems of savings and credit for primarily economic ends, but it is recognized as similar in nature. All are part of economizing activities.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: