Distribution and denomination in Papua New Guinea: a field method and its results

Pickles, A. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7524-602X (2020) Distribution and denomination in Papua New Guinea: a field method and its results. Journal of Cultural Economy, 13 (2). pp. 185-206. ISSN 1753-0350

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Abstract

In highland Papua New Guinea wealth distribution after a windfall is typically concealed by the donor. This trend was made easier by the introduction of state-issued currency, such that wealth reckoning and especially distribution preferences are often shrouded in mystery. The researcher set out to learn how denomination structures those money transfers by employing a semi-structured interview method centered around hypothetical distributions based on everyday encounters. Across four tailored ‘scenarios,’ fifteen Papua New Guinean participants dwelt on who to give money to, why, and under what conditions. Observations are made about the driving forces in distribution practices, the pecuniary conception of certain relationships’ importance, and relationships that turn on local conceptions of how to capitalize on the way money operates, thus demonstrating the utility of a culturally sensitive quantitative methodology.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	denomination,papua new guinea,demand sharing,distribution,fieldwork methods,cultural studies ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3316
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	12 May 2020 00:11
Last Modified:	17 Aug 2023 21:31
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/75115
DOI:	10.1080/17530350.2019.1684338

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