Pooling. Pleidooi voor een model

Samenvatting

Shows the value of a model of a commonly encountered structure of indirect exchange, ie, pooling. Although the rules governing contributions & distribution may vary considerably in different systems, it is hypothesized that potential participants always make two comparisons: (1) between their own costs & rewards; & (2) between the equity of ratios of costs & rewards. Costs & rewards are not limited to the material realm. The cultural as well as the structural embeddedness in- & outside the pooling system determines which factors are considered as a cost or reward, whether reciprocity should be expected in the short term, & what is considered to be fair. It is concluded that the model is helpful not because of its predictive capacity but because it helps the sociologist to ask relevant questions. A Western & a non-Western example are provided. 2 Tables, 48 References. Adapted from the source document.