Further studies

The relationship of reciprocity and, more generally, the basic reciprocal dimension of human relations, have been presented and analysed in the foregoing chapters. This included the consideration of the very different types and motives of reciprocity; the explanation of these motives from basic psychological phenomena; the analysis and comparison of the various types of reciprocal interaction; the presentation of the relations between reciprocity and the various social sentiments (with which it should not be confused, short of complete misunderstanding – for instance, reciprocity is neither altruism nor fairness); the presentation of the place of reciprocity among the various types of social relations and the comparison with the others; and the presentation and explanation of the various types of extended reciprocity. This has then been applied in the presentation and analysis of the role of reciprocity in various very important aspects of social and economic life, such as the family; relationships, groups, and communities; general respect permitting a peaceful and free society; honesty, truth-telling, promise keeping, trustworthiness and trustfulness in exchanges and cooperations; life in organizations and notably firms, and at the workplace; the common reciprocitarian corrections of market failures (difficulties in information and exclusion, asymmetric information, incomplete and missing contracts, the voluntary provision of public goods and participation in collective action, externalities, ending sequential exchanges, etc.); the political and public sector, its structure and its social policies; the effects of reciprocity on the efficiency of groups and societies; and the intrinsic value of reciprocitarian relations.