Debt in Rural South India: Fragmentation,Social Regulation and Discrimination

This micro-level study combines multivariate and qualitative analyses to highlight the fragmented nature of debt in southern Indian rural households. It finds that debt is socially regulated in the sense that social interactions shape the cost, use and access to debt. Caste, social class and location affect how individuals borrow varying amounts from distinct money providers, for varied purposes and at differing costs. Debt thus is not purely an economic but first and foremost a social transaction which inscribes debtors and creditors into local systems of hierarchies. Furthermore, we find that debt is an illustration and catalyst of broader socio-economic and political trends, namely a lack of social protection, persistent under-employment and rising consumerism. In terms of policy implications, the study highlights the ambiguities and illusions inherent to ‘financial inclusion' policies aiming to eradicate informal debt.     

Other publications received

Raw Materials and International Control. By H. R. G. Greaves. Pp. vi. +166. London: Methuen. 5s.

Soviet Money and Finance. By L.E.Hubbard. 8? × /3/4>”. Pp. xx+339. Macmillan. 1936. 12s. 6d.

Big Horse's Flight. By Sven Hedin. Translated by F. H. Lyon. Pp. 248. Illustrations and map. London: Macmillan and Co. 1936. 21s.

South to Samarkand. By Ethel Mannin. Pp. 355, 20 illustrations and sketch maps. London: Jarrolds. 1936. Price 12s. 6d.

Sven Hedin's Archæological Collections from Khotan. By Gösta Montell. Reprinted from the Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, No. 7. Stockholm. 1936.

The Quest for Cathay. By Brigadier‐General Sir Percy Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.B., C.M.G. Pp. xii+280. A. and C. Black. 15s.

Tamerlane or Timur the Great Amir. Translated by J. H. Sanders, from the Arabic Life by Ahmed ibn Arabshah. 8vo. Pp. xvii + 341. With a map and a frontispiece. Luzac and Co. 1936. 12s. 6d. net.

Cronica de Dom João de Castro. By Leonardo Nunes. Edited with an Introduction by Professor J. D. M. Ford. Demi‐oct. Pp. xxviii+241. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1936. 10s. 6d.

The Making of Modern Turkey. By Sir Harry Luke, C.M.G. 8/1/2>” × 6”. Pp. viii + 248. Frontispiece. Macmillan. 1936. 10s. 6d.

Quinze Ans de Mandat; I'?uvre Francaise en Syrie et au Liban. Anonymous. Pp. 69.

Euphrates Exile. By A. D. Macdonald. 7/3/4>" × 5/1/4>”. Pp. 301. Illustrated. G. Bell and Sons, Ltd. 7s. 6d.

Richard Burton, Explorer. By Hugh J. Schonfield. 8/3/4>” × 5/3/4>”. Pp. 303. Frontispiece. London: H. Joseph. 1936. 15s.

Hebrew Origins. By Th. J. Meek. The Haskell Lectures for 1933–1934. Pp. viii+219. New York: Harper and Brothers. 1936. $2.

Thy Neighbour. By Lord Melchett. 7/3/4> × 5. Pp.284. 2 illustrations and 2 maps. London: Muller. 1936. 7s. 6d.

A Plan for Lasting Peace in Palestine. By Nevill Barbour. Jerusalem. 1936. Equivalent 1s.

A Palestinian Kaleidoscope, “ Palestine on the Eve.” By Ladislas Farago. Two maps. Sixty‐three illustrations. Putnam. 10s. 6d.

New Zionist Publications—No. 2. New Zionist Press, 47, Finchley Road, London, N.W. 8. 1s.

From Alexander Burnes to Frederick Roberts. A Survey of Imperial Frontier Policy. By J. L. Morison.

The 1st Battalion Duchess of Connaught's Own (late 124th D.C.O. Baluchistan Infantry) and the 10th Battalion (late 2/124th Baluchistan Infantry), the 10th Baluchistan Regiment. By O. A. Chaldecott. 8/3/4>” × 5?”. Pp. xiv+250. Eleven maps, two portraits. (Lieut.‐Col. J. N. Soden, Baluchistan Regiment, Karachi.)

Diamonds and Dust; India through French Eyes. By Baron Jean Pellenc. 9” × 6”. Pp. 306. Illustrations and map. London: Murray. 1936. 10s. 6d.

The Tiger Hunters. By Brigadier‐General R. G. Burton. 8¾> × 5¾>. Pp. xvi+225+xxxii. 16 illustrations. Hutchinson. 12s. 6d.

Honoria Lawrence : A Fragment of Indian History. By Maud Diver. Pp. 524. John Murray. 16s.

Scott of the Shan Hills: Orders and Impressions. Edited by G. E. Mitton (Lady Scott). 9 × 6. Pp. 333. Illustrations and maps. London: John Murray. 15s.

Return to Malaya. By R. H. Bruce Lockhart. Pp. i+426. Putnam. 10s. 6d.

Far East in Ferment. By Guenther Stein. Methuen. 10s. 6d.

Key Economic Areas in Chinese History. By Ch'ao‐ting Chi, Ph.D. George Allen and Unwin, Ltd.

China's Red Army Marches. By Agnes Smedley. 8? × 5/1/2>? Pp. xxii+311. London: Lawrence and Wishart, Ltd. 5s.

"Living China”: Modern Chinese Short Stories. Compiled and edited by Edgar Snow. With an Introduction by the Editor and an Essay on Modern Chinese Literature by Nym Wales. 8? × 5”. Pp. 355. Frontispiece. London: Harrap. 1936. 8s.

River of Golden Sand. By Thomas Woodroofe. 8/3/4>” × 5/1/2>”. Pp.325. Faber and Faber, Ltd. 8s. 6d. net.

Manchoukuo: Jewel of Asia. By D. M. B. Collier and Lieut.‐Colonel C. L. E. Malone. 8/3/4> × 5/3/4>”. Pp. iv+267. Sixteen photographs. Allen and Unwin, Ltd. 12s. 6d. net.

When Japan Goes to War. By O. Tanin and E. Yohan. 8/1/4>” × 5/1/2>”. Pp. 271. London: Lawrence and Wishart. 1936. 5s.

Japan : Recollections and Impressions. By Grace James. Pp. 285. Illustrated. George Allen and Unwin, Ltd. 1936.

Militarism and Foreign Policy in Japan. By E. E. N. Causton. George Allen and Unwin, Ltd. 7s. 6d.

Stalking in the Himalayas and Northern India. By Lieut.‐Colonel C. E. Stockley, D.S.O. Pp. 250. Illustrated. Herbert Jenkins. 15s.     

Labour market segmentation in Cameroonian manufacturing

The economic crisis in Cameroon has provided a test for distinct causes of labour market segmentation. Many firms that previously followed rigid legislation have ceased to do so, while a traditional informal sector has continued outside almost all regulation. We categorise workers as informal, formal, or regulated, by firm characteristics, and test for labour market segmentation between these sectors. Direct legislation is the most significant cause of segmentation. We find limited evidence that the costs of becoming formal create rationing in formal‐sector jobs. While addressing both sets of rigidities would have maximum impact on unemployment in Cameroon, reforming direct labour legislation is likely to have the most beneficial short‐term impact.     

The dilemmas of market socialism: Capital market reform in China ‐ part II: Shares

This two‐part article analyses the attempts to reform the socialist financial system in China by diversifying financial assets and introducing capital markets. The approach used is that of political economy, in the sense of elucidating the interplay between political and economic interests, actors and issues in the reform process.

Part I discusses the issue of bonds by governments and enterprises. Although the reform era has seen gradual progress towards something resembling a bond ‘market’ in terms of a diversification of bond types and growing competition between bond issues, there is no evidence that this has improved allocative efficiency in the economy. Rather, bonds have functioned as one instrument in a complex struggle for resources between political, institutional and economic actors in the context of a continuing ‘shortage economy’. This competitive system falls far short of a true ‘market'; rather it embodies powerful systemic factors reflecting the basic structural and institutional features of a semi‐reformed socialist economy.

One of these systemic factors is the institution of social ownership of the means of production which has been called into question by the emergence of shares and share markets, a process we discuss in Part II. Share issues have in the event been economically unimportant but politically important since they challenge the ideological and institutional underpinnings of a ‘socialist’ economy. The key to the future of this form of financial liberalisation depends not merely on further progress in complementary areas of economic reform policy, but also on a resolution of these fundamental political issues.     

Land Accumulation Dynamics in Developing Country Agriculture

Abstract

Understanding land accumulation dynamics is relevant for policy-makers interested in the economic effects of land inequality in developing country agriculture. We thus explore and simultaneously test the leading theories of micro-level land accumulation dynamics using unique panel data from Paraguay. The results suggest that farm growth varies systematically with farm size – a formal rejection of stochastic growth theories (that is, Gibrat’s Law) – and that titled land area may have considerable influence on land accumulation. Furthermore, our estimates indicate that a dualistic agrarian structure is the likely product of the unfettered operation of land markets.     

America's freedom to act in the Caspian Area

After the break up of the Soviet Union the conflict over energy resources in the Caspian area has flared up again. The United States has entered the stage, but the only remaining superpower finds it hard to forward its security policy interests and interests in the economic sphere in the area. The creation of a US‐dominated hegemony in the area would be beneficial for the United States, but the policy of containment of Iran and Russia, and US policy towards Azerbaijan seriously limits this possibility. Thus it is not possible to secure American influence in the Caspian area. In the long term this leaves the area open to Russia and Iran, or new actors such as China and the EU, unless the United States is willing to soften its policy vis‐à‐vis Iran and/or Azerbaijan in order to create the needed hegemony, and in this way achieve economic and political influence in the former Soviet republics.     

Framing,Value Words,and Citizens' Explanations of Their Issue Opinions

This study examines the effects of framing on how citizens use value language to explain their views on political issues. An experiment simulated exposure to framing in media coverage of gay rights. The results show that participants who received an "equality" frame were particularly likely to explain their views on gay rights in terms of equality and that participants who received a "morality" frame were particularly likely to cast their opinions in the language of morality. A closer examination, however, showed that exposure to the frames encouraged participants to use value language not only in ways suggested by the frames but also in ways that challenged the frames. Moreover, the results indicated that exposure to the "morality" frame interfered with the impact of the "equality" frame, suggesting that the presence of alternative frames can dampen framing effects.     

Suicide Pacts: Six Cases and Literature Review

A suicide pact is the decision of two or more people to die together. This event is rare. The majority of suicide pacts victims are married, socially isolated, with a serious physical illness in one or both partners. We performed a retrospective study of all cases of suicide pacts leading to death between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2010 referred to the Forensic Medicine Department of Tours (France). Six cases were recorded as suicide pacts. Firearms were the preferred means of death. Five suicide notes were discovered. For some cases, it was difficult to establish whether death was the result of a suicide pact or of a homicide–suicide without the consent of the victim. An objective element, such as a suicide note and motive, is required to prove that a suicide pact is involved. The prevalence of mental disorders is hard to assess. In France, psychological autopsies are not performed in such cases, as the investigation is usually very sparse after the death of both individuals.     

The Interest of Postmortem Bacteriology in Putrefied Bodies

A 27‐year‐old man was found dead in an advanced decomposition stage at home. On external examination, his body showed petechial hemorrhages of the skin. At autopsy, petechial hemorrhages of the epicardium were found, but no sign of meningitis was detected. Toxicological investigations remained negative. Bacteriological conventional analyses showed no significant result. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B was finally isolated on cerebrospinal fluid by a specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction. To our knowledge, there are no available data about the postmortem diagnosis of an infectious cause of death in a decomposed corpse. In such situations, the polymicrobial overgrowth usually hampers the interpretation of bacteriological conventional methods and questions their diagnostic value. Such molecular bacteriological approaches appear to constitute an important diagnostic tool for forensic scientists and should be widely processed in case of suspected infectious death or sudden death whatever the postmortem interval.