This proposed match-up can free needy people from their dependence upon self-interested bankers, the Altruists state. But to call this a 'gift economy' seems to deny the fact that even when no money exchanges hands, there is always some sort of an exchange of value. The giver may wish to gain some sort of power over the recipient, may want to get a tax deduction, or at the very least, the giver desires to enhance his or her self-esteem. Even tribal gift exchanges served a political purpose. Moreover, although this type of gift economy may encourage some philanthropists to give without 'strings attached,' it is unlikely many people will give, without some assurance of some sort of return. Even online, the spirit of altruism is hardly universal and has its limits. Few people can afford to be so generous. The Altruists would counter that the Internet itself began as a gift-giving exchange of information. In 1961, during first germination of the Internet, a network joining four universities known as ARPANET was created at the Stanford Research Institute near Palo Alto: "university students and scientists, struggling to share information faster" created a computer-based information system. "Beyond the pragmatism behind their motivations, lay a philosophical and political conviction: the free...
Today, advertising is almost everywhere online, and is required to support most high-quality websites. The quality of information generated on a free blog that is 'gifted' to the viewer does not usually have the reliability of a professional website, with paid reporters and supported by advertising. The reliability of funds from altruistic donors will never have parity with the donor capacity of a bank. Personal giving is capricious in nature, and usually deals in smaller sums. Altruism and the gift economy cannot replace capitalist exchanges. It is unlikely that a pure gift economy ever existed, at least the kind of gift economy where something was truly given for nothing.
Internet and Democracy In one sense, computers and the Internet are just a continuation of the communications revolution, starting with the printing press then continuing with the telegraph, telephone, motion pictures, radio and television. Could this be leading to a more fundamental change in history on the same level as the agricultural and industrial revolutions? This is a more problematic proposition. Of course, the idea of a post-industrial economy based on
Shopping Mall The American economy was the biggest political topic during the 2012 presidential election. Americans are worried because unemployment rates are high throughout the country, and President Obama has also cut spending to some key sectors such as the military. There is much that is causing the recession that is unrelated to domestic policy, such as what is going in Europe with the debt crisis. However, there are some important
International Political Economy In recent years the presence of a global economy has become more apparent. Financial institutions throughout the world are now connected through a vast computerized network. As a result of this global economy issues associated with the international political economy has become an increasingly important issue. The purpose of this discussion is to explore the manner in which the three conceptions of the international political economy (Realism, Liberalism,
Cyber Feminism, Gender and Technology Cyberfeminism, Gender and Technology Feminist movement found on the internet is known as Cyberfeminism. In recent times, the term has gained controversial status. Cyberfeminism, a fundamental issue from the feminist perspective, is mostly ignored by researchers and academics. It concentrates on empowerment of women through the cyberspace. Furthermore, it deals with female enlightenment and concentrates on creating awareness on how the digital technologies can influence the rights
sustainable development and economic growth? Within a global economy, it is very important that as people that we start to rethink the basis of economics for the reason that with the economic system we are gifted with today, sustainable development and economic growth is not likely to attain simultaneously. This essay provides an overview of the issue and call for a shared policy that gives an everyone of the individuals
It's a tidal wave that's going to engulf us all within the next five years. Cloud services will be a $160 billion industry by the end of 2011" (Ginovsky 2011, 21). Although the decision to transition from a traditional approach to cloud computing will depend on each organization's unique circumstances, a number of general benefits have been cited for those companies that have made the partial or complete transition to
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