Moves beyond analytical models of rural change that focus on the peasant/agricultural aspect of rural communities and makes a convincing case for an approach that integrates farm and non-farm occupations and does justice to the conditions of occupational multiplicity that characterize, to an increasing extent, many of the rural communities in Asia. Challenges conventional (and simplistic) “peasant to proletarian” views of change. Offers some empirical support for a more optimistic view of the future—one of growing household prosperity and widespread individual opportunity.

Published in 2000.