Chapter 8. Natural Limits to Gratuitous Goods

Understanding Gratuitous Goods

Gratuitous goods are defined as those provided and received voluntarily within a society that respects private property rights. The connection between gratitudinal goods and a free society is examined, raising questions about the fragility of this association. If societal conditions change, gratuitous goods could decline or even disappear if the fundamental qualities that define them are altered. For example, stories told freely by a storyteller become non-gratuitous if they no longer evoke appreciation from their audience, illustrating how tastes and societal values can affect the nature of what is considered gratuitous.