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In this fascinating and challenging work, the author analyses the way water for drinking is produced, distributed, owned, acquired, and consumed in contrasting ways in different settings. From the taken-for-granted, all-purpose water, flowing out of taps in advanced economies to extreme inequalities of access to water of variable qualities, drinking water tells its own interesting story, but also reflects some of the centrally important characteristics of the state and economies of the different countries. From sparkling mineral water in Germany, to drinking water garages in Taiwan, from water tankers in Mexico City to street vendors in Delhi markets, comparisons are made to stretch our understanding of what we mean by 'an economy', quality, and property rights, of water.
In addition, the study of socio-economics of drinking water provides a route into understanding interactions between polity, economy and nature. One of the major themes of the book is to analyse the 'sociogenic' nature of sustainability crises of economies of water in their environmental settings: epidemics, droughts, pollution, land subsidences and floods. Overall it develops an economic sociology, neo-Polanyian approach in a comparative and historical exploration of water for domestic consumption.
List of contents
1. Properties of Water Mark Harvey 2. London Drinking: Historical Transformations of Water Mark Harvey 3. Configuring Bottled Water in Europe Adrian Evans and Mark Harvey 4. Divided Delhi: Bricolage Economies and Sustainability Crises Aviram Sharma and Mark Harvey 5. Mexico City: Up in the Sky without a River Daniel Figueroa and Mark Harvey 6. Taiwan Water: Little Island, Waves of Power William Li and Mark Harvey 7. Water Variations Mark Harvey
About the author
Mark Harvey is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation, University of Essex, UK.
Summary
In this fascinating and challenging work, the author analyses the way water for drinking is produced, distributed, owned, acquired, and consumed in contrasting ways in different settings.
