La théorie économique confrontée aux transformations économiques d’une société rurale : le cas de la province de Phongsaly au Laos

The dominant economic theory gives to the market a core function. Generally, exchanges of goods are considered as the way to maximize profit or utility. Social transformations are therefore driven by the market. The north of Lao PDR example refutes such theory. The Phongsaly rural communities have self-sufficiency as a main objective. They aim to reach it first. Before self-sufficiency is achieved, farmers do not produce for the market and they only start to market products once self-sufficiency is reached. The main products marketed at the beginning are first undertaken for self-sufficiency. The surplus is the only part of the production sold. The few products only marketed come from gathering. In addition, the products prices do not really influence the peasants' choices and the products sold generally show relatively weak work productivity.