Class # 9: The Community of Limited Liability
Discussion Questions for Class on Sept. 23, 2009
Related Readings: Janowitz & Street, "Changing Social Order of the Metropolitan Area,"
and Titmuss, "The gift" and "Economic man and social man"

These writing assignments are meant to help you think about the readings and to prepare you for class discussions. For that reason, when you write a response it is important that you give your opinions and that you relate your thoughts to the reading. Remember that these are exam questions and that they are graded as such. You ought to write them as though you are writing questions on a midterm or a final exam.

Respond to one of the following questions by writing a response on the class Discussion Board on Blackboard at least one hour before class on the date the question is listed. Put your name in the text of the question and give the question number as listed below. Without these I can't tell who wrote the question or what you are responding to. You then have until Midnight on the following Sunday of that week to revise your response if you wish to do so and to submit it for grading. To submit your responses, send them via email to milofsky@bucknell.edu.

Your final version of this question is due by midnight, Sunday, September 27.

9-1. In an earlier class we talked about how auctions reveal the multi-dimensional qualities of communities in Central Pennsylvania and we read Barnes's article about community on an Island in Norway. In their reading for today, Janowitz and Street talk about "the community of limited liability". How is the community you saw at the auction similar or different from the community of limited liability?

9-2. How is the concept of social capital related to the concept of the community of limited liability?

9-3. Janowitz and Street tell us that local community is declining in metropolitan areas, on one hand, yet they also argue that local community sentiments are being built up. Why is community declining and how is it built up?

9-4. Some people have argued that altruism depends on citizens being willing to engage in "gift relationships" which are different from economic or utilitarian relationships. Part of the reason people like Putnam argue that social capital is so important is that it builds up trust between citizens and makes them more willing to give selflessly to civic causes. What are the challenges of setting up gift relationships in modern society?

9-5 Street and Janowitz and Camerer takes us through similar analyses using different language. Tell how community results in light of the community of limited liability using Camerer's discussion of the difficulties of making gifts trustworthy.