Back to Glossary

Redistribution

The movement of goods from a central point — a chief, a host, a state — outward to a wider group, as distinct from reciprocal exchange between two parties. The potlatch functioned as redistribution among Northwest Coast nations in a society without markets, currency, or centralized taxation, moving accumulated surplus wealth outward to guests including poorer clans.

Learn about this term

Related Terms

Vocabulary from all courses. Terms are cross-referenced to show where each concept appears.