The social life of inflation

Eva van Roekel (Editor), Sian Lazar (Editor), Stale Wig (Editor)

Research output: Web publication or Non-textual formWeb publication or WebsiteAcademic

Abstract

After a period of relatively low inflation in many economies in the Global North, inflation has once again become a major world concern. The COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted supply chains and labor markets, combined with increased government spending and rising energy prices due to the war in Ukraine, has contributed to a global surge in prices. Unsurprisingly, public debates have centered on how to stall this development. Bankers, policymakers, and economists negotiate which economic levers to pull, and when, to stabilize the prices. Amid discussions about rising interest rates, new monetary policy and government price caps, where does anthropology fit in? What can anthropology add to the academic study of inflation?
Original languageEnglish
PublisherFocaal
Media of outputOnline
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • inflation
  • crisis
  • ethnography
  • value

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