| This question <645|556> overall <1002|1004> Slrrjk: <1002|1004>. |
| Question 184: What is the difference between the direct barter of products and the exchange of commodities? Why does the direct barter of products usually involve surplus-products, and why does it usually take place between members of different communities? |
| [1003] Slrrjk: Direct barter of products is not as complex of a process as the exchange of commodities is. For example in a tribal society goods such as food and clothing are produced for the group by the group and if the group has produced everything it needs with no surplus then there is no need to barter. But if a surplus does happen to occur then excess goods would be traded with different excess goods of another community. Bartering goods implies that goods were not originally intended to be exchanged and it is usually some type of solution for getting rid of a surplus. Exchanging commodities on the other hand is a more calculated process. Goods are produced specifically for exchange and the process is usually done on an individual scale versus a group or communal one. Bartering is more of a reaction to a given situation (usually to address needs or to dispense of something) and commodity exchange is based on a carefully though out process to try and make a gain. The direct barter of products usually involves surplus items because as I said earlier it is a reaction to a situation not a planned process and a surplus of one group usualy benefits the shortage or needs of another group, usually belonging to a different community. I think bartering takes place between different communities because what one group has an excess of the other group may be lacking in due to geographical location,etc. |
| Hans: Regarding your last point, a more important consideration is that if one group has surplus which another group within the same community needs, then these goods will just be given to the other group without barter, because neither group considers itself the exclusive owner of these socially produced goods. Between tribes it is different; each tribe owns its products. |
|
|
|||||