In many small-town cafes in Minnesota (and elsewhere, we are sure) there is a dice cup on each table, used by the morning-coffee regulars to see who pays for the coffee each day. This works because the regulars assume that "it'll all even out eventually." Another phrase for this is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Generalized reciprocity refers to the practice of giving without expecting anything immediate or specific in return, under the assumption that these things balance out over time. This concept applies to the situation described, where individuals take turns paying for coffee without keeping precise track of who pays when, expecting that it will even out in the long run.

In Many Small-Town Cafes in Minnesota (And Elsewhere, We Are