Economics without Numbers Lecture Notes

A series of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on economics and hunter-gatherer societies.

Reciprocity

A form of exchange involving mutual exchange or obligation.

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

Societies that subsist by hunting for wild game and gathering edible plants.

Situational Leadership

Leadership that occurs through consensus based on individual expertise or skills within a given situation.

The !Kung San

An iconic hunter-gatherer society living around the Kalahari desert, known for their subsistence practices.

Self-Sufficiency

A characteristic of hunter-gatherer societies where tools and skills for production are accessible to everyone.

Generalized Reciprocity

Giving without the expectation of return, commonly associated with family relationships.

Balanced Reciprocity

Exchanges of equal value between people, typically associated with community interactions.

Negative Reciprocity

Economic activities aimed at gaining at the expense of others, like barter or theft.

Mopane Worm

The large caterpillar of the Gonimbrasia belina species, known for its nutritional value, commonly eaten in some cultures.

Division of Labour in !Kung San Society

Characterized by minimal division of labor, where both men and women can perform various economic roles.

Homeswapping

The practice of trading residential access without formal economic transactions or tax implications.

Couch Surfing

A practice of staying overnight in someone else's home for free, often between friends or acquaintances without mutual obligation.