Efforts to reduce rural poverty in disadvantaged upland zones of the Greater Mekong Region (GMR) are taking place in the context of evolving regional trends toward greater restrictions on upland land use induced by environmental concerns, generally more pluralistic and par- ticipatory multi-level governance (despite periodic setbacks), and an increasingly globalized economy. Indeed, national and regional development policies emphasize investments in in- frastructure that are expected to bring upland rural communities into the growing market economy. Many skeptics, however, are concerned that poor minority communities cannot effectively engage in production for globalizing markets, that national and local institutions will not be able to provide appropriate governance and information, and that market eco- nomics will only bring additional hardship and deterioration of environmental services. How to address these concerns is one of the greatest development challenges in the region today.
Publication year
2008
Authors
Thomas D E; Ekasingh B; Ekasingh M; Lebel L; Hoang M H; Ediger L; Thongmanivong S; Sangchyoswat C; Nyberg Y; Xu, J.
Language
English
Keywords
agricultural economics, agriculture, markets
Geographic
Indonesia
