Poor People's Knowledge
Author | : J. M. Finger |
Publisher | : World Bank Publications |
Total Pages | : 263 |
Release | : 2004 |
ISBN-10 | : 9780821354872 |
ISBN-13 | : 0821354876 |
Rating | : 4/5 (72 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: This publication considers how poor people in developing countries can maximise their earning capacity and find viable markets based on their innovation and traditional skills, as well as their creative, cultural and intellectual knowledge. It contains a number of papers which examine case studies relating to the African music industry; traditional crafts and ways to prevent counterfeit crafts designs; the activities of fair trade organisations; biopiracy and the commercialisation of ethnobotanical knowledge; the use of intellectual property laws and other tools to protect traditional knowledge. Whilst seeking to maintain the art and culture of poor people, the contributions also recognise traditional skills must develop viable markets in order to survive, and the case studies illustrate that culture and commerce can often complement, rather than conflict with, each other.