Development and Inequity

The Case of Tubuai, a Welfare Economy in Rural French Polynesia

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2499151
AutoresVictoria Joralemon (Southern Methodist University, autor de correspondencia)
Año1986
Volumen45
Número4
Páginas283-295
Fecha de publicación1986-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHuman Organization (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0018-7259 • E-ISSN: 1938-3517
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.17730/humo.45.4.x7k71524335k5567
OpenAlexW1967298370
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas10

Social scientists note that development encourages the growth of wealth differences and structured social inequality in peasant communities. Recognizing this, some have advocated welfare and equity-oriented development strategies. It is proposed that development on Tubuai, an island society dominated by a welfare economy, approximates such strategies and that this case can be examined to assess their value. The structure of household socioeconomic differentiation which has emerged in response to new economic opportunities is described. The paper then examines the impact of a new potato cash-cropping project, documenting the structure of differential participation and isolating household level factors which are strongly associated with variable levels of development participation. It is argued that although development strategies are welfare and equity-oriented, development does not have a broad base of participation among Tubuai families and that a small segment of the population is expanding cultivation and rapidly concentrating capital. This case suggests that such strategies are not an effective means of encouraging equitable growth in the context of a regional capitalist economy. The implications of development trends for the future structure of Tubuai society are projected

Context (archaeology) · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Equity (law) · Geography · Inequality · Market economy · Peasant · Political science · Population · Social Welfare · Sociology · Welfare · Island Studies and Pacific Affairs · Rural development and sustainability