Commercial and Sharing Economies

"If we're in a place where we feel such simplicity should reign, where we're not insulted when someone mentions money, where we meter the relationship with price, then we're within a 'commercial economy'" - Lessig pg 121. We are constantly immersed in the commercial economy. Indeed America runs off of it. Staples of American culture such as Wal-Mart, McDonald's, and Starbucks would not exist without it. In a commercial economy people participate purely for monetary reward. I will write this book and publish it, but only if you buy it. Set prices are necessities in this economy.

A sharing essentially exists solely for the joy of those participating. There is no money being thrown around. Lessig uses romantic relationships as an example. Though money is very rarely being exchanged between partners, there is indeed a currency being used. This currency is emotional or spiritual assistance and validation. Price is not needed in this situation, though if both sides do not reciprocate the relationship will not last long. Price is an insult to the sharing economy, because it is an over simplification. In cases such as Wikipedia people participate purely for the pleasure of it.

But why are these distinctions needed? Simple really. When it comes to remix culture, the commercial economy is not needed. People remix and participate purely for the joy of being part of the culture. Some do end up receiving monetary compensation sometimes, but overall that is not the motivation.