Publisher's Synopsis
This book documents the findings of a group of case studies on the problems of population growth and environmental degradation in rural areas of Pakistan. Each case study reveals a particular aspect of the general processes at work in different ecological zones: the agricultural lands of the Indus plains, the coastal areas, and the mountainous zone. The studies focused on collective responses to population and environmental problems and on the breakdown of traditional systems of decision making in rural areas. The book introduces the concept of de-responsibilization in contrast to economists' traditional notions of rational behavior. In addition, these case studies illuminate the realities of present-day Pakistan, the state of its population and environment, and its record of development.
