by Dan Baum
Abstract
This paper demonstrates how cultural traditions and norms, or “cultural capital” can be used to spark local economic development in rural Ghana. I show that the cooperative fits especially well with rural Ghanaian cultural institutions and, as a result, is the economic structure best suited to maximizing the developmental potential found in Ghana’s cultural norms. The cooperative also mediates effectively between Ghana’s desires for economic growth and cultural preservation, by allowing for the retention of traditional practices while creating a more economically significant organization. Owing to its successful navigation of Ghana’s cultural landscape, the cooperative offers a great opportunity for Ghana to realize locally driven economic development and growth.
Professor Genna Miller, Faculty Advisor
JEL Codes: O55,
