How is personal networking connected to the idea of bartering and bartering communities?

Went to a good workshop this morning on the subject of personal networking. During this session I began to visualise and reflect on the the possibility of a (loose?) community made up of networks in which fair exchange is a core concept. The notion that you could live a freer, happier life, by getting rid of tight, profit-driven financial transactions and instead working towadrs exchanges of time, skills and information with like-minded people...A version of "you scratch my back" etc...But there should be nothing pernicious or acquisitive about signing up to such a way of life. I guess there is loads out there on bartering, and I know that bartering communities exist...But when one begins to fuse bartering in to the world of corporate life and networking you could perhaps come up with productive and happier new ways of living at work, and working through life.