Community economies in the Global South: Case Studies of Rotating Savings, Credit Associations, and Economic Cooperation
People across the globe engage in social and solidarity economics to help themselves, their community, and society on their own terms.
Community Economies in the Global South examines how people who conscientiously organize rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs) bring positive changes to their own lives as well as others.
ROSCAs are a long-established and well documented practice, especially those organized by women of colour.
Members make regular deposits to a fund as a savings that is then given in whole or in part to each member in turn based on group economics.
This book spotlights women in LatinAmerica, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia who organize and use these associations, composed of ordinary people belonging to similar class origins who decide jointly on the rules to suit the interests of their members.
The case studies show how they vary greatly across countries in the Global South, demonstratingthat ROSCAs are living proof that diverse community economies do exist and have been around for a very long time.
Caroline Hossein is an Associate Professor of Global Development and Political Science at the University of Toronto at Scarborough and the founder of the Diverse Solidarity Economies (DiSE) collective. Her research and teaching include African diaspora in the Global South; mutual aid; non-profits; international feminist political economy; and social finance.
Other publications from this author include: