Household Vulnerability and Resilience to Economic Shocks : Findings from Melanesia

"Focusing on the vulnerability and resilience to economic shocks at the household level, this book draws on extensive research activities carried out in two Melanesia countries: the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In particular, it identifies the household impacts of the recent food, fuel and economic crises. The contributors also examine resilience by identifying how households responded to these recent economic events in order to cope with their impacts. Findings indicate that households are vulnerable to a range of shocks and often struggle to cope with their impacts. Shocks are making it harder for households to meet their basic needs. Households in Melanesia are facing increasing demands for money, in particular for school fees, basic foodstuffs and customary obligations. Concurrently, there are limited domestic opportunities for formal employment. Traditional social support networks are strong and are an important form of resilience. However, there is evidence that they are disintegrating. Of particular focus are the gendered impacts. Women are found to bear a disproportionate share of the burden in adjusting to household shocks. The authors highlight key areas in which public policy and development programmes can reduce household vulnerability and increase their resilience to future economic shocks." Présentation de l'éditeur "Focusing on the vulnerability and resilience to economic shocks at the household level, this book draws on extensive research activities carried out in two Melanesia countries: the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In particular, it identifies the household impacts of the recent food, fuel and economic crises. The contributors also examine resilience by identifying how households responded to these recent economic events in order to cope with their impacts. Findings indicate that households are vulnerable to a range of shocks and often struggle to cope with their impacts. Shocks are making it harder for households to meet their basic needs. Households in Melanesia are facing increasing demands for money, in particular for school fees, basic foodstuffs and customary obligations. Concurrently, there are limited domestic opportunities for formal employment. Traditional social support networks are strong and are an important form of resilience. However, there is evidence that they are disintegrating. Of particular focus are the gendered impacts. Women are found to bear a disproportionate share of the burden in adjusting to household shocks. The authors highlight key areas in which public policy and development programmes can reduce household vulnerability and increase their resilience to future economic shocks." Présentation de l'éditeur Household Vulnerability And Resilience To Shocks In Melanesia : An Overview / Simon Feeny And May Miller-dawkins -- Coconut Trees In A Cyclone : Vulnerability And Resilience In A Melanesian Context / Lachlan Mcdonald -- Responding To Shocks : Women's Experiences Of Economic Shocks In The Solomon Islands And Vanuatu / Jaclyn Donahue, Kate Eccles And May Miller-dawkins -- Mobility And Economic Resilience In Melanesia / Alberto Posso And Matthew Clarke -- Vulnerability To What? Multidimensional Poverty In Melanesia / Matthew Clarke, Simon Feeny And Lachlan Mcdonald -- Vulnerability, Resilience And Dynamism Of The Custom Economy In Melanesia / Lachlan Mcdonald, Vijay Naidu And Manoranjan Mohanty -- Vulnerability And Resilience In Melanesia : A Case For Formal Social Protection? / Simon Feeny. Edited By Simon Feeny. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Household vulnerability and resilience to economic shocks in Melanesia : an overview / Simon Feeny and May Miller-Dawkins Coconut trees in a cyclone : vulnerability and resilience in a Melanesian context / Lachlan McDonald Responding to shocks : women's experiences of economic shocks in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu / Jaclyn Donahue, Kate Eccles and May Miller-Dawkins Mobility and economic resilience in Melanesia / Alberto Posso and Matthew Clarke Vulnerability to what? multidimensional poverty in Melanesia / Matthew Clarke, Simon Feeny and Lachlan McDonald Vulnerability, resilience and dynamism of the custom economy in Melanesia / Lachlan McDonald, Vijay Naidu and Manoranjan Mohanty Vulnerability and resilience in Melanesia : a role for formal social protection policies? / Simon Feeny. Focusing on the vulnerability and resilience to economic shocks at the household level, this book draws on extensive research activities carried out in two Melanesia countries: the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In particular, the book identifies the household impacts of the recent food, fuel and economic crises. The authors also examine resilience by identifying how households responded to these recent economic events in order to cope with their impacts. The authors highlight key areas in which public policy and development programmes can reduce household vulnerability and increase their resili