Reciprocity and the Market Economy in Samoa, Polynesia

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Other Title
  • ポリネシア・サモア社会の互酬性と市場経済
  • ポリネシア ・ サモア シャカイ ノ ゴシュウセイ ト シジョウ ケイザイ

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Description

The purpose of this paper is to examine the intricate relationship between reciprocity and the market economy in the semi-subsistence society of Samoa, Polynesia. While the local economy in the villages is dependent on subsistence farming, which is based on customary land tenure and provides staple food for the family, cash incomes are becoming more and more important with the advance of the market economy. The colonial powers introduced two different categories of status: 1) Europeans – actually, part-Europeans – and 2) Samoans from more than 100 years ago. Europeans, actually half-Europeans mostly, were the people who belonged to the urban area, leading to a capitalist economy of management and cash transactions, while Samoans belonged to the villages, leading to a subsistence economy of village farming and fishing in the sea. While Europeans managed companies, Samoans managed their customary lands and customary laws. The bar dividing the two categories has not existed since Samoa’s independence more than 50 years ago. Nevertheless, the economic morality of reciprocity is still very strong in Samoan villages and among Samoan families, while capitalism and the market economy belonging to urban area and overseas in the Samoan view, is not easily entering Samoan village life.

Journal

  • 経済志林

    経済志林 87 (3･4), 191-213, 2020-03-20

    法政大学経済学部学会

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