Rethinking 'exchange economy' in the light of co-production and crowdsourcing

We contribute to all kinds of co-production on the web. We often do it on a volunteer basis expecting that - but not knowing whether - others will contribute as well. What we DO know is that we can pick up a multitude of things of value to us from the web, things that others have produced.

The fact that the individual giver does not necessarily get anything in return from the receiver, but certainly from somebody else, gives us reason to rethink what exchange economy is about. An updated concept of exchange economy includes - not only the traditional exchange of goods and services but also - the new 'reciprocity economy': 'I contribute to something of value to you because I know I'll get something in return from somebody'.