Anthropologists have several categories for how groups exchange goods and services. The one you're probably most familiar with is called a Market Economy, where I go to a coffee shop and give them a few dollars and they give me a cup of hot coffee. Rationalists, by and large, are fans of market economies. We just don't usually operate in one.

1. Market and Gift

Lets start with some definitions and examples in case you're unfamiliar with the genre. Allow me to describe two ways of organizing.

Someone offers you an experience you want, maybe some music. You take them up on it, which basically just involves walking over to their place and sitting down to listen; if you're not close enough you just go the Youtube channel with all the music. You have a great time. Later you write some story and put it on the internet where anyone can read it, sending a note to a friend you wrote it for. Your friend gushes about it back to you. A little while later your friend runs a party with a bunch of food and invites you; you don't go, but you hear the musician did and had [...]

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Outline:

(00:32) 1. Market and Gift

(04:02) 2. What does a gift economy need?

(07:14) 3. Is this good?

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First published:
November 29th, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CNTKnpkdDaFNuwGDd/change-my-mind-the-rationalist-community-is-a-gift-economy

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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Images from the article:

Event ticket listing showing price range and December sixth date.

Meme featuring Captain Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean with text about gift economies.

Meme showing trade offer format with person making scheming gesture below text.

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2016 Global Summit, Steve Midgley