Can Compensation Prevent Impoverishment?: Reforming Resettlement Through Investments

by Michael M. Cernea

Can Compensation Prevent Impoverishment? contributes significantly to the international public debate on development-caused displacement and resettlement. The book rejects the long-held thesis that compensation is in itself enough to restore and improve the livelihoods disrupted bydisplacement.Instead, the authors of this volume, a group of the world's best known resettlement scholars-sociologists, anthropologists, economists, ecologists and legal experts-recommend changing displacement policies, laws and practices, by adding investment financing and ex-post benefit-sharing to fullcompensation.Can Compensation Prevent Impoverishment? comes at a time when those displaced are increasingly opposing impoverishment by forced displacement. Their voices, argue the authors, speak of basic needs and human rights, and must be heard.

Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007