Can Compensation Prevent Impoverishment?

Book excerpt: 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 by displacement. 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 full compensation. 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.