Home-Based Economic Activities and Caribbean Urban Livelihoods

Vulnerability, Ambition and Impact in Paramaribo and Port of Spain

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19917835
AutoresHebe Verrest (0000-0003-2812-4155, autor de correspondencia)
Año2007
Páginas314
Fecha de publicación2007-01-01
Open AccessNo
TipoBOOK
RevistaHome-based economic activities and Caribbean urban livelihoods (SOURCE_BOOK)
EditorialAmsterdam University Press (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.5117/9789056294908
OpenAlexW2116044921
Open LibraryOL23147086M
ISBN9789056294908
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7

Poor urban households in the economic 'south' deploy various livelihood activities. One of these is a Home-Based Economic Activity (HBEA), e.g. sales of home-made snacks or car maintenance. This study examines the prevalence, organisation and relevance of HBEAs in four neighbourhoods in the Caribbean cities Paramaribo (Suriname) and Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago). Recent economic developments in these countries diverge; Suriname recovers slowly from a crisis while Trinidad and Tobago's economy is buoyant. These economic features together with local political developments have produced distinct institutional contexts. This gives ground for a comparison between the two cities. In addition, the study discusses the relevance of currently popular policies on entrepreneurship and micro-finance. The above issues have been assessed through use of multiple quantitative and qualitative methods. The study shows that forty percent of households in the examined neighbourhoods earn money through operating HBEAs. These are mainly operated by women and assist households in improving their livelihoods from a level of survival to a level of security. Most HBEA-operators aim at earning additional incomes and reducing vulnerability. Only a small group meets the image of the classic operator who innovates, takes risk and aims at growth and profit. The two groups organize their HBEA in very distinct ways. Differences between Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago are small. First of all economic growth has limited impact on assets and vulnerability of low-income groups. Moreover, policies aiming at stimulation of entrepreneurship such as micro-credit are relevant to classic entrepreneurs and not to the large group of security-seeking HBEA-operators

Agriculture · Archaeology · Computer security · Economics · Economy · Environmental planning · Geography · Livelihood · Port (circuit theory) · Vulnerability (computing) · Computer Science · Engineering · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy · Caribbean area · Community development, Urban · Developing countries · Economic aspects · Economic conditions · Home-based businesses · Kwetsbaarheid · Onderontwikkeling · Social aspects · Suriname · Suriname (land) · Thuiswerk · Trinidad and tobago · Trinidad en Tobago · Urban Community development · Urban poor