Publication:
Poverty and Public Celebrations in Rural India

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dc.contributor.authorRao, Vijayendra
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-26T20:30:15Z
dc.date.available2014-08-26T20:30:15Z
dc.date.issued2001-01
dc.description.abstractThe author examines the paradox of very poor households, spending large sums on celebrations. Using qualitative, and quantitative data from South India, the author demonstrates that spending on weddings, and festivals can be explained by integrating an anthropological understanding of how identity is shaped in Indian society, with an economic analysis of decision-making under conditions of extreme poverty, and risk. The author argues that publicly observable celebrations have two functions: they provide a space for maintaining social reputations, and webs of obligation, and, they serve as arenas for status-making competitions. The first role is central to maintaining the networks essential for social relationships, and coping with poverty. The second is a correlate of mobility that may become more prevalent as incomes rise. Development policies that favor individual over collective action, reduce the incentives for the networking function, and increase the incentives for status-enhancing functions - thus reducing social cohesion, and increasing conspicuous consumption. Market-driven improvements in urban employment, for example, could reduce a family's dependence on its traditional networks, could reduce incentives to maintain these networks, and could reduce social cohesion within a village, and thus its capacity for collective action. In contrast, micro-finance programs, and social funds try to retain, and even build a community's capacity for collective action.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/01/891709/poverty-public-celebrations-rural-india
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-2528
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/19724
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relation.ispartofseriesPolicy Research Working Paper;No. 2528
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.subjectAGED
dc.subjectANTHROPOLOGY
dc.subjectANXIETY
dc.subjectCITIES
dc.subjectCOMMUNITIES
dc.subjectCONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
dc.subjectDEBT
dc.subjectDEPENDENCE
dc.subjectDEVELOPMENT POLICIES
dc.subjectDISTRICTS
dc.subjectDIVORCE
dc.subjectDOWRIES
dc.subjectDOWRY
dc.subjectECONOMIC ANALYSIS
dc.subjectECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subjectECONOMIC INCENTIVES
dc.subjectECONOMIC MODELS
dc.subjectECONOMICS
dc.subjectEMPIRICAL INVESTIGATIONS
dc.subjectEMPLOYMENT
dc.subjectEXCHANGE RATE
dc.subjectEXOGAMY
dc.subjectEXPENDITURES
dc.subjectEXTREME POVERTY
dc.subjectFAMILIES
dc.subjectFATHERS
dc.subjectGIRLS
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLDS
dc.subjectHUMAN BEHAVIOR
dc.subjectIDEAS
dc.subjectIDENTITY
dc.subjectINCOME
dc.subjectINSURANCE
dc.subjectINTEREST RATES
dc.subjectINTERVENTION
dc.subjectLAWS
dc.subjectMARRIAGES
dc.subjectMINES
dc.subjectMOTHERS
dc.subjectNORMS
dc.subjectPARENTS
dc.subjectPOLICY RESEARCH
dc.subjectPOVERTY ALLEVIATION
dc.subjectPOVERTY LINE
dc.subjectPRICE VARIATIONS
dc.subjectRELIGION
dc.subjectRITUALS
dc.subjectRURAL AREAS
dc.subjectSCHOOLS
dc.subjectSOCIAL CAPITAL
dc.subjectSOCIAL MOBILITY
dc.subjectSOCIAL NETWORKS
dc.subjectSOCIAL SANCTIONS
dc.subjectSOCIAL SERVICES
dc.subjectSOCIAL STATUS
dc.subjectSOCIETIES
dc.subjectSOCIETY
dc.subjectSOCIOLOGISTS
dc.subjectTOWNS
dc.subjectVILLAGES
dc.titlePoverty and Public Celebrations in Rural Indiaen
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crossref.titlePoverty and Public Celebrations in Rural India
okr.date.disclosure2001-01-31
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-10T09:23:33.139642Z
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Policy Research Working Paper
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/01/891709/poverty-public-celebrations-rural-india
okr.globalpracticeSocial, Urban, Rural and Resilience
okr.globalpracticeEducation
okr.guid433791468773973485
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-2528
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum000094946_01020905474823
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum891709
okr.identifier.reportWPS2528
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2001/03/01/000094946_01020905474823/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdfen
okr.region.administrativeSouth Asia
okr.region.countryIndia
okr.themeSocial protection and risk management
okr.topicCulture and Development::Anthropology
okr.topicHealth Monitoring and Evaluation
okr.topicEnvironmental Economics and Policies
okr.topicHealth Economics and Finance
okr.topicEducation::Education and Society
okr.unitPoverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group
okr.volume1
relation.isAuthorOfPublication385fa299-94e8-5dcc-a817-90cf574a0ae2
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery385fa299-94e8-5dcc-a817-90cf574a0ae2
relation.isSeriesOfPublication26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
relation.isSeriesOfPublication.latestForDiscovery26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
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