Publications

A major social transformation is reshaping rural India. New processes of urbanization are marked by steep declines in agricultural jobs, the restructuring of local economies, changing livelihoods, and the emergence of new forms of permanent circular labor migration. Our research suggests that this transformation has important social ramifications for household dynamics and class structures, with implications for conventional urban theory and potential relevance for urbanizing experiences of other parts of the Global South. In India alone, this transformation is affecting the livelihoods and well-being of hundreds of millions of people.

This edited volume is a new edition of the previously published special issue of Third World Quarterly in which our article appeared. The book expands understandings of how skills are defined, acquired, and utilized in Global South contexts. ‘Skills’ and ‘skill development’ are increasingly prominent focal points for governments in the Global South and international development bodies. Yet, policymakers and practitioners promoting skill development often overlook the everyday realities of how skills are learned and acquired, and how they are deployed and valued by individuals and communities. Frequently, they ignore the social and institutional barriers that prevent people from using their skills in meaningful or remunerative ways.

This edited volume is a new edition of the previously published special issue of Third World Quarterly in which our article appeared. The book expands understandings of how skills are defined, acquired, and utilized in Global South contexts. ‘Skills’ and ‘skill development’ are increasingly prominent focal points for governments in the Global South and international development bodies. Yet, policymakers and practitioners promoting skill development often overlook the everyday realities of how skills are learned and acquired, and how they are deployed and valued by individuals and communities. Frequently, they ignore the social and institutional barriers that prevent people from using their skills in meaningful or remunerative ways.