- broad claims of reciprocity as a universal of all transfers among humans have been falsified (Thomas Widlok)
- Michel Bauwens (wiki 
) distinguishes between the 'general reciprocity' as a feature of the commons (individuals reciprocating with the whole), and the reciprocity of the gift economy (reciprocity with other individuals or groups with the direct expectation of a return). (personal correspondance). This distinction is based on a narrow understanding of the gift economy and not making distinctions between reciprocal actions from non-reciprocal ones like to share, to help or to divide.