Socio economic factors in economic development in Madagascar

This paper synthesizes existing regional studies of socioeconomic development in Madagascar. The following topics are covered: (1) sociocultural dimensions (village organization, land tenure, organization of production, work allocation among household members, education, attitudes toward money and wealth, entrepreneurship, ancestor worship, attitudes toward medicine, attitudes toward technology innovation; (2) ethnic diversity; (3) household survival strategies, including specific examinations of Merina and Betsileo rice farmers of the highlands, Antandroy cattle herders of the south, western slash and burn and/or baiboho farmers, western Vezo fishermen; northeast vanilla producers; plantation workers of the south and southeast, Haysma cotton growers, the urban business community (mainly Antananrivo), and the role of women; (4) socioeconomic dynamics - - impoverishment, breakdown of social organization and values, competition among resource users, landlessness, lawlessness, rural urban migration, and concentration of power in hands of bureaucrats and landowners. An appendix evaluates the materials utilized in this review. (Author abstract, modified)