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Gold Digging Careers in Rural East Africa: Small-Scale Miners' Livelihood Choices

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  • Bryceson, Deborah Fahy
  • Jønsson, Jesper Bosse

Abstract

Summary Rural livelihood studies over the past two decades have stressed directional movement away from smallholder agriculture and the diffuse, ad hoc, uncertain, and low-earning character of most rural non-agricultural income diversification. Based on a recent survey of small-scale mining in Tanzania, this article documents the higher risks, greater potential earnings, more elaborate division of labor, and career trajectory of miners. Tracing cohort entry groups indicates that those willing to withstand the hardships of moving from one gold strike to another and time commitment to a career considered dangerous and alienated from agrarian traditions of the Tanzanian countryside may be materially rewarded for their efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryceson, Deborah Fahy & Jønsson, Jesper Bosse, 2010. "Gold Digging Careers in Rural East Africa: Small-Scale Miners' Livelihood Choices," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 379-392, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:38:y:2010:i:3:p:379-392
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Banchirigah, Sadia Mohammed, 2008. "Challenges with eradicating illegal mining in Ghana: A perspective from the grassroots," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 29-38, March.
    2. Bryceson, Deborah Fahy, 1996. "Deagrarianization and rural employment in sub-Saharan Africa: A sectoral perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 97-111, January.
    3. Elke Grawert, 1998. "Making a Living in Rural Sudan," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-26804-7.
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    6. Bryceson, Deborah Fahy, 2002. "The Scramble in Africa: Reorienting Rural Livelihoods," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 725-739, May.
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