ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines how poor people obtain food and other basic commodities. It shows how the rural and urban poor obtain another basic necessity, that is, shelter. The book demonstrates that people are more interested in social relationships which enable them to meet their needs rather than being embedded in groups. It focuses on how the poor deal with health shocks. Academic literature and the popular press tend to romanticise the role of kin solidarity at the time of a funeral. The book suggests that the tension within kin-based networks as members try to satisfy their self-interest. It argues that the nature or quality of kin support provided during funerals is mediated by cultural norms, hence the term ‘culture-driven solidarity’, which denotes assistance dictated by cultural norms. The book also focuses on whom low-income people discuss important personal matters with.
