**So do you think it's a useful link? I can't tell from your comments. It sounds to me like it simulates a rather trivial model of a gift economy, since from your description it seems to assume that everyone is perfectly benevolent. In reality, a successful gift economy is quite complex: lacking any explicit quid pro quo, there are usually elaborate social rewards and punishments that get those with a surplus to give it away.   |  July 8, 2005 05:13 (UTC)