Gift economy

Regency » Gift economy
A gift economy is common in tribal societies that don't use money. In a gift economy, the community gifts some portion of its produce to the community, or its chief, and these are then redistributed in feasts and community activities.
In some regards, this kind of communal gift economy is an insurance against the persistent risk of hunting failure that can happen to any hunter. Rather than go hungry, the hunter enjoys the kill brought by others while sharing his kill at other times.
A gift economy also conceals the differential success of some group members, avoiding the conflict that can arise from differential success. A tribe must function harmoniously. Divisions in the tribe are avoided by such communal demands.
The path of the gift economy goes from the tribe to the chief and then back to the tribe, and this brings prestige to the chief, who is ultimately responsible for the prosperity of the tribe.