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AMISH ABUNDANCE: HOW THE PLAIN PEOPLE PROSPER
Author(s) -
Metcalf William J
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
australian journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1839-4655
pISSN - 0157-6321
DOI - 10.1002/j.1839-4655.1993.tb00930.x
Subject(s) - abundance (ecology) , poverty , experiential learning , sociology , action (physics) , social capital , project commissioning , socioeconomics , publishing , environmental ethics , social science , economic growth , ecology , political science , economics , law , biology , pedagogy , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics
Abundance is defined as having enough of whatever one craves and/or needs in life. Thus, one can speak of physical abundance as being distinct from spiritual or social abundance. Abundance is an inherently personal, experiential concept, not amenable to objective, economic measurement such as income. The Amish people of Canada and USA provide an excellent case study in avoiding poverty traps and achieving a sustainable, abundant and healthy life, on very low incomes. This study of Amish culture has important social lessons and policy implications, both on the micro and the macro level. The study also reveals how the social and material security which the Amish enjoy, is however, achieved at the cost of severely circumscribed personal freedoms of thought and action.