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Namibian food foragers often exchange goods with each other as a means of creating and reinforcing social ties. This is best described as which of the following?

A. barter
B. market exchange
C. reciprocity
D. redistribution

User Betjens
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Reciprocity is the best description of the exchange where Namibian food foragers exchange goods to create and reinforce social ties. This form of exchange involves sharing goods with no regard for their value or compensation, resulting in equal exchange among all group members. so, option C is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The exchange described in the question, where Namibian food foragers exchange goods to create and reinforce social ties, is best described as C. reciprocity.

In this form of exchange, goods are shared with no regard for their value or interest in compensation. It looks like altruism, but when practiced rigorously by a group, it results in the equal exchange of goods among all group members over time. Examples of reciprocity include the practice of generalized reciprocity in gatherer-hunter societies and balanced reciprocity in horticultural and agricultural societies.

In contrast, barter involves the swapping of goods on the spot, while market exchange refers to exchanges that happen in the market, where buyers and sellers meet for the purpose of exchange. Redistribution involves the central authority collecting goods and then redistributing them among the population.

User KevinResoL
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