Week 7.2 - Ghodsee, Shopaholic in Eastern Europe (Due 10/11)

How were consumption patterns different under the communist regime than the free-market one? How did the command economy and the rationing system work? How do these economic systems shape people's behaviors and expectations?

Week 7.1 - In and Out of Africa (Due 10/9)

Why is African art valued differently than European/American so-called “fine art”? Why are “authentic” pieces valued more by the American/European collectors? How do we determine the “just price” for the pieces of art sold through this transnational market? What are the socio-economic inequalities that structure these exchanges?

Week 6.2 - Value, Evil eye, Economic subjectivities

How does Elyachar discuss value in the context of workshops in Cairo? What kinds of value does she identify? How do these values affect business (according to the members of the workshop)?

Week 6.1 - Value and Wealth

What kinds of wealth do Carola and Saraswathi mobilize to make their livelihoods? How are these forms of wealth valued? How do these modes of value-formation compare across the Mexican and Indian context?

Week 5.2 - Money and Social Ties

Does money corrupt social relations? Does the use of social relations in financial realms cause inefficiency or favoritism of failure? How does Zelizer respond to claims that money and social relations don't mix well together? How do people intertwine money and social relations?

Week 5: Money and Social Ties

What is the conventional story of money, according to Maurer? What, according to Maurer, are some shortcomings of this story?

Week 4: Forum - the Gift

Using the analysis and examples from the readings by Mauss and Zelizer, discuss the following questions: Is the gift ever free? Is money (cash, gift card, etc) a worthy gift?