Gift Giving and Trust
Abstrakti
This paper examines the relationship between
the concepts of gift giving and trust. Drawing on
the work of ethnologist Marcel Mauss and philosopher Elizabeth Anderson, the paper argues
for considering trust a gift. This means that
trust is an immaterial good which is given, received, and requited according to the rules of gift
exchange. An examination of the valuation of
trust shows that trust does not have a use
value, but a relational value jointly created by
the parties involved in the exchange. Also, trust
shows a number of properties which are usually
ascribed to gifts. Discussing examples from ethnology and business, the paper explores the
ethical and theoretical consequences of considering trust a gift.
