ABSTRACT
Parallel to the struggle against colonialism, political oppression, and the harsh environment, there has been a movement to strengthen the integrity and autonomy of the Cape Verdean economy. Major owners of Cape Verdean land include private capitalists and the Catholic Church. Parallel to the transition from a state-run to a private economy in Eastern Europe, Cape Verde is experiencing some rising social and political tensions, increased unemployment, and active class formation. In the 1980s, domestic consumption patterns rather consistently required that 47 to 52 percent of the family income be spent on food. The volcanic origins of the islands produced a very narrow coastal shelf, which provides for limited trawling for some species of commercial fish. The fishing industry has significant potential for expansion, but it has been limited by lack of investment capital, inadequate port facilities and fishing technology, and small-scale seafood-processing facilities.
