In this Book

  • An Impossible Living in a Transborder World: Culture, Confianza, and Economy of Mexican-Origin Populations
  • Book
  • Carlos G. Vélez-Ibáñez
  • 2010
  • Published by: University of Arizona Press
summary
They are known as cundinas or tandas in Mexico, and for many people these local savings-and-loan operations play an indispensable role in the struggle to succeed in today’s transborder economy. With this extensively researched book, Carlos Vélez-Ibáñez updates and expands upon his major 1983 study of rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs), incorporating new data that reflect the explosion of Mexican-origin populations in the United States. Much more than a study of one economic phenomenon though, the book examines the way in which these practices are part of greater transnational economies and how these populations engage in—and suffer through—the twenty-first century global economy.

Central to the ROSCA is the cultural concept of mutual trust, or confianza. This is the cultural glue that holds the reciprocal relationship together. As Vélez-Ibáñez explains, confianza “shapes the expectations for relationships within broad networks of interpersonal links, in which intimacies, favors, goods, services, emotion, power, or information are exchanged.” In a border region where migration, class movement, economic changes, and institutional inaccessibility produce a great deal of uncertainty, Mexican-origin populations rely on confianza and ROSCAs to maintain a sense of security in daily life. How do transborder people adapt these common practices to meet the demands of a global economy? That is precisely what Vélez-Ibáñez investigates.

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Frontmatter
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  1. Contents
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  1. List of Illustrations
  2. pp. ix-x
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  1. Acknowledgments
  2. pp. xi-xii
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  1. Introduction
  2. pp. 1-8
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  1. 1. The Transborder and Transnational Dimensions of Culture and Political Economy
  2. pp. 9-43
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  1. 2. Confianza: Building Block of Social Exchange and the Operational Cycles of ROSCAs
  2. pp. 44-86
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  1. 3. Social and Cultural Dimensions and Dynamics of Their Class Contexts
  2. pp. 87-119
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  1. 4. Living at a Slant in the Midst of Megascripts in the Transborder Southwest North American Region: Dos mujeres sin fin
  2. pp. 120-154
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  1. 5. Crossing Divisions and Social Borders: ROSCAs as Transborder Practices and Their Functions
  2. pp. 155-181
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  1. 6. Conclusions
  2. pp. 182-186
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  1. Appendix A: Foreword to Bonds of Mutual Trust (V
  2. pp. 187-188
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  1. Appendix B: FYGO
  2. pp. 189-190
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  1. Appendix C: Six-Person, Thirty-Week Tanda
  2. pp. 191-192
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  1. Appendix D: Contract of Agreement
  2. pp. 193-196
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  1. Notes
  2. pp. 197-212
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  1. Glossary
  2. pp. 213-216
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  1. Bibliography
  2. pp. 217-234
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 235-241
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