Camponês, sustentabilidade e metaeconomia : nexos e convergências

Abstract

In this paper peasant economic behavior will be studied using sustainability as a nexus and from a theoretical and normative point of view, first within the framework of metaeconomy , concept created by Ernst Friedrich Schumacher, and secondly within the framework of the prevalent microeconomic theory. Sustainability is generally considered to be a problem whose solution is socially and globally important and this work will analyze the tendency and potential of the peasant to promote this solution. This paper will tackle metaeconomy as a normative reference to promote sustainability and allow the justification of the consistence and plausibility of peasant behavior. Schumacher s work is studied along four lines: his criticism of neoclassical economic science and three of his propositions, the importance of people in the economy, being small and appropriate technology . Together, it is considered that these three concepts evoke all the rest of the concepts belonging to metaeconomy . With a basis in the economic practices of the peasant and in his conformity with metaeconomy this work attempts to represent his behavior using microeconomic formalism and growth patterns, creating a microeconomic peasant model of production and growth. The model is presented via matrixes in which the stocks and physical flows are present as well a model of accountancy based on the fact that the peasant is at once producer, consumer and investor. Finally, I argue that this theoretical-normative peasant model is consistent and compatible with the sustainability requirements for human beings and their environment. This work is based on analysis of available literature. Its objective is to contribute to Schumacher s call for the study of a more human economy.