Abstract
We use agent-based modeling to study osotua, a gift giving system used by the Maasai of East Africa. Osotua's literal meaning is "umbilical cord," but it is used metaphorically to refer to a specific type of gift-giving relationship. Osotua relationships are characterized by respect, responsibility and restraint. Osotua partners ask each other for help only if they are in need and provide help only when asked and only if they are able. We hypothesize that under the ecologically volatile conditions in which Maasai pastoralists have traditionally lived, such a system is particularly suited to risk pooling. Here we explore whether osotua increases the viability of herds by comparing herd survivorship and stability under osotua rules to a) no exchange and b) probabilistic rules for requesting and giving livestock. Results from this model suggest that this gift-giving system can dramatically increase herd longevity through a limited pooling of risk.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 131-140 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Human Ecology |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2011 |
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Keywords
- Cooperation
- Maasai
- Norms
- Pastoralism
- Reciprocity
- Risk-pooling
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anthropology
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Sociology and Political Science
- Ecology
Cite this
Risk-Pooling and Herd Survival : An Agent-Based Model of a Maasai Gift-Giving System. / Aktipis, C Athena; Cronk, Lee; de Aguiar, Rolando.
In: Human Ecology, Vol. 39, No. 2, 04.2011, p. 131-140.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk-Pooling and Herd Survival
T2 - An Agent-Based Model of a Maasai Gift-Giving System
AU - Aktipis, C Athena
AU - Cronk, Lee
AU - de Aguiar, Rolando
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - We use agent-based modeling to study osotua, a gift giving system used by the Maasai of East Africa. Osotua's literal meaning is "umbilical cord," but it is used metaphorically to refer to a specific type of gift-giving relationship. Osotua relationships are characterized by respect, responsibility and restraint. Osotua partners ask each other for help only if they are in need and provide help only when asked and only if they are able. We hypothesize that under the ecologically volatile conditions in which Maasai pastoralists have traditionally lived, such a system is particularly suited to risk pooling. Here we explore whether osotua increases the viability of herds by comparing herd survivorship and stability under osotua rules to a) no exchange and b) probabilistic rules for requesting and giving livestock. Results from this model suggest that this gift-giving system can dramatically increase herd longevity through a limited pooling of risk.
AB - We use agent-based modeling to study osotua, a gift giving system used by the Maasai of East Africa. Osotua's literal meaning is "umbilical cord," but it is used metaphorically to refer to a specific type of gift-giving relationship. Osotua relationships are characterized by respect, responsibility and restraint. Osotua partners ask each other for help only if they are in need and provide help only when asked and only if they are able. We hypothesize that under the ecologically volatile conditions in which Maasai pastoralists have traditionally lived, such a system is particularly suited to risk pooling. Here we explore whether osotua increases the viability of herds by comparing herd survivorship and stability under osotua rules to a) no exchange and b) probabilistic rules for requesting and giving livestock. Results from this model suggest that this gift-giving system can dramatically increase herd longevity through a limited pooling of risk.
KW - Cooperation
KW - Maasai
KW - Norms
KW - Pastoralism
KW - Reciprocity
KW - Risk-pooling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79954419209&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79954419209&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10745-010-9364-9
DO - 10.1007/s10745-010-9364-9
M3 - Article
VL - 39
SP - 131
EP - 140
JO - Human Ecology
JF - Human Ecology
SN - 0300-7839
IS - 2
ER -