Culture and public action

The observation that cultural norms affect economic development has been made repeatedly, yet it has been very hard to use it effectively, whether for policy or for prediction. The essays in this volume present authoritatively the present state of knowledge and point out new aspects, which hold out the prospect of greater usefulness.
-Kenneth Arrow, Stanford University
This impressive collection of essays com bines outstanding theoretical essays on the complex interrelation between culture and development with well-researched case studies that ground these observations in the everyday reality of the poor. The book does not seek to resolve all debates on these issues, but rather asks what kinds of agreements are possible that will yield insights to move public action in meaningful ways. It is an invitation to go beyond polem ics and to deepen our stakes in the dialogue. between anthropology and economics. The introduction and conclusion by the two editors are models of clarity and hospitable thought.
-Veena Das, Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University