The Anthropology of Economy network was launched at EASA 2012 in Nanterre. We are a young and growing network, with about 165 subscribers to our listserve so far. We have a friendly association with the Society of Economic Anthropology of the American Anthropological Association, and some cross-membership.

Research interests among the group are both diverse and strongly resonant with one another; we range from work on rural economies and agriculture to household and informal economies to energy technologies, from local money lenders and micro-credit schemes to international development projects, from local experiences of economic crisis to studies of multi-national corporations, taxation and investment practices.

Intention and justification

Anthropology of economy is one of the most vivid, rich and complex subfields of the discipline, and its scope has grown and diversified in many ways, particularly during the last decade. Economy is integral to genuine anthropological preoccupations like globalization, development, entrepreneurship, household organization, institutions, food, work, consumption, sustainable energies, fisheries or markets. Given the ongoing economic instability in Europe and shifts in global economies, fostering widespread concerns that the dominance of the prevailing economic theory is no longer tenable, there is clearly an opening for the diverse perspectives on economy that anthropology can provide, and a need for anthropologists of economy to collectively engage in unfolding debates.

In this context, an EASA network on Anthropology of Economy makes sense and is past due. Given the number of workshops convened for EASA 2012, 2014 and 2016 devoted to themes of economy, finance, development, etc., it appears that significant interest in anthropology of economy exists within EASA.

Objectives

The purpose of this network is to provide a rallying point for EASA members who share this interest. To that end, the first step is to set up an easaonline.org listserve to facilitate communication among members and to enable them to share announcements about developments in research, conferences, publications, funding and employment opportunities, etc. The Network can also serve as a platform to liaise with similar networks elsewhere, such as the U.S.-based Society for Economic Anthropology, as well as with alternative economics organizations such as the recently launched World Economics Association.

Activities

The Anthropology of Economy Network is active during the EASA conventions (sponsoring one official workshop, holding a network meeting, facilitating the organization of other workshops). It supports a Network Event in the years between EASA’s biannual conferences. Members are encouraged to hold smaller local networking events that will be valuable in and of themselves for the scholarly engagement they would foster, which could also be catalysts for research and writing collaborations. A main activity of this network is its listserve. Members are encouraged to communicate their interests to one another.

Call for Contributions

The purpose of the Newsletter of the Anthropology of Economy Network is to inform on research, publication, teaching and other activities of Network members and collaborators and in this way stimulate cooperation, facilitate exchange and contribute to ongoing discussions and emerging interests in economic anthropology. The Newsletter is published three times a year. It is distributed through the Network’s mailing list and available for download on the Network webpage.

All network members are encouraged to contribute to the Newsletter.

Contributions should be worded in their final form (i.e. the text can be copy and pasted directly into the newsletter); only light editing will be provided. The newsletter editor will let you know if anything is missing. Submissions should not exceed 250 words. Contact details are required; photos, illustrations or links to webpages containing further information are welcome.

The Newsletter is published in English. Announcements about events taking place in other languages are welcome, provided that the Newsletter announcements are in English. The section “Recent publications” welcomes references in all languages.

Please send your contributions or address any questions regarding the Newsletter to Nikolaos Olma: Nikolaos.Olma(at)zmo.de. For more information about the AoE Network see https://www.easaonline.org/networks/economy/

All network members are encouraged to send contributions to the following sections:

• Upcoming events
  To inform on upcoming events organized by Network members.
• Recent events
  To report on recent events either organized by members or in which members participated.
• In Focus
  To provide a short insight into particular members’ new projects, research and teaching activities, or to inform about the launch of new initiatives relevant to economic anthropology. This section is intended for members to learn about each other’s work. All members are encouraged to present their activities and projects here as a means of introduction.
• Teaching
  To provide information about and recommendations for teaching (including teaching programs and reading lists).
• Recent publications
  To share information on recent publications (including reports and non-academic publications) by network members. Please provide full bibliographical information (including DOI, ISBN, if available), online link, discount codes, or image of book covers whenever possible.
• Perspectives, Notes and Queries
  To make a statement, pose a question, or make an observation relevant to economic anthropology, broadly conceived. This space is intended as an informal forum for exchange with network members. Please include your email address for direct inquiries and exchanges with members.
  If you want to reply to a column, write a column or have an idea for one, please communicate with James G. Carrier: jgc.jgcarrier(at)gmail.com.
• Calls for papers, applications and similar
  To notify about calls for presentations, papers, and applications to workshops, conferences, and academic posts. But please do not forget also to inform all members and supporters of the Network by using our mailing list: anthecon(at)lists.easaonline.org.