RMI debate: "Misjudged gifts - What really makes the economy tick?"

Does the economy need gifts?

Exchange as a calculated service and consideration is considered typical of the economic process. However, purchase and labour contracts can only explain to a limited extent what keeps the economy running on a daily basis. The extent to which the functioning of markets and businesses depends on "gifts" is usually misjudged. These are contributions that cannot be contractually expected, that are not given for the sake of a benefit and that nevertheless - and therefore - serve the common good and strengthen the foundations of the economy, especially insofar as they trigger further gifts from others.

The construct of the gift is not mainstream in economics. It is difficult to reconcile with the still dominant utilitarianism and rationalism of economics. The situation is different in the social and cultural studies. Since Marcell Mauss analysed the gift as a form of social interaction a good 100 years ago, it has undergone many interpretations and applications, including at the interdisciplinary and critical edges of economics.

The gift creates connections instead of obligations. The construct illustrates the social embedding of economic relationships, but it is not entirely unproblematic: there is debate about how it can be distinguished from other forms of interaction and about the moral content of presumably altruistic behaviour that can turn out to be inefficient or even toxic.

The three renowned guest speakers Günther Ortmann, Birger Priddat and David Seidl want to set new accents in this topic in the RMI debate and provide impetus for recognising giving in the economy.

In his new book "Über den Vertrag hinaus: Von Gaben und anderen Zutaten der Arbeit" (2026, Velbrück),Günther Ortmann opposes the utilitarianism of economics and presents a wealth of contributions that people make in companies because they are concerned with dignity and decency. People help or care, not because they have a personal obligation to do so, but because that's what they do when they are part of society. These voluntary contributions are usually unrecognised and companies rarely reciprocate, even though they are essential.

In his book "Der Markt der befreundeten Bürger im reichen Athen" (2025, Metropolis), Birger Priddat undertakes a revision of Aristotle's economics of friendship in terms of the theory of giving, which he locates between polis and oikos and which involves more than just generosity and generosity. The form of interaction of "sharing" in the friendship network has so far received little attention. It is giving to those in need - without much pride or effort - and at the same time evocative, because it encourages imitation and thus multilaterally strengthens relationships of friendship.

David Seidl represents a practice-theoretical perspective on strategy processes in and around companies. Similar to the criticism of utilitarianism, strategy-as-practice also opposes the rationalism of economic decision-making. The orientation of a company is only partly an expression of formal procedures, plans and measures. Little attention is often paid to how strategies are continuously shaped by the informal and emergent contribution of many. Analogies to the gift are obvious, just as, conversely, this contribution consists of gift practices.

However, these ideas also raise new questions, which the speakers will try to answer both among themselves and in the discussion:

• How much really depends on gifts?
• Are they more than a sideshow of the economy?
• How can we judge whether they are beneficial to the individual, the company, the network or the associate?
• When would gifts be undesirable and from whose point of view?

The RMI debate will be moderated by Prof Dr Guido Möllering, Director and Chair at the Reinhard Mohn Institute of Management at Witten/Herdecke University.

A detailed description can be found here.

Participation in the event, including a small reception afterwards, is free of charge after prior registration.

Prof Dr Dr h.c. em. Günther Ortmann is Professor Emeritus of Management at Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg and was Research Professor of Leadership at the Reinhard Mohn Institute of Management at Witten/Herdecke University from 2014 to 2022. (Günther Ortmann, Über den Vertrag hinaus: Gaben und andere Zutaten der Arbeit, Velbrück Wissenschaft, 1st edition to be published in March 2026, ISBN 978-3-95832-430-5).

Prof Dr em. Birger P. Priddat held the Chair of Economics and Philosophy and has been a Senior Research Fellow at the "WittenLab. Zukunftslabor Studium fundamentale" at Witten/Herdecke University, where he also served as President and Dean for a time. (Birger P. Priddat, Der Markt der befreundeten Bürger im reichen Athen: Zur Revision der politischen Ökonomie des Aristoteles ("Wirtschaftsphilosophie" Vol. 14), Metro¬polis, 1st edition published in December 2025, ISBN 978-3-7316-1625-2).

Prof. David Seidl, PhD is Professor of Management, in particular Organisation and Management at the University of Zurich. Before beginning his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, he spent a year as a lecturer at Witten/Herdecke University. (Damon Golsorkhi, Linda Rouleau, David Seidl and Eero Vaara (eds.), Cambridge Handbook of Strategy as Practice, Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition published in January 2025, ISBN 978-1-009-21607-4).