Division of Integrated Area Studies
OKA, Michitaro (Japanese Research Fellow)
Rural (Development) Economics
Research Interests
Since 1995 I have been researching rural economies and rural factor markets
(like land, labor, and capital) in Gujarat, India, for rural development
and poverty alleviation. The results of this study show how the functioning
of rural factor markets suffer not only from serious inequality of land
distribution, but also from "patron-client" social relations
that are caused by the kind of "bonded labor system" that prevails
in central Gujarat village society. These factors also strongly correspond
with the caste system in rural India. Findings about the importance of
social factors and rural institutions that are embedded in economic activities
could have implications for development policies such as minimum wage policy
and subsidized rural credit. The relationship between rural economic and
social institutions is still strong in rural India, even in the era of
economic growth and market liberalization that has prevailed since the
new economic policies of the 1990s.
My current interest is to expand these empirical studies to wider geographical
research fields. Theoretical sophistication about development (or agricultural)
economics is also required to draw out the implications for Indian agricultural
policy or rural development policy as a whole. An expectation of future
study is, through these abstractions, to compare India with Southeast Asian
societies.
<<< To staff list | ▲Top of This Page
