Building Merit: The Moral Economy of the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Rural, Post-Socialist Eastern Mongolia

Abstract This article describes the development of moral economy merit among fishermen and rural poor Dalai Village, Magtaal soum , Mongolia. In 1971, historian E. P. Thompson used term “moral economy” to describe a popular consensus on what was considered right wrong in economic behavior, arguing that its provocation motivated eighteenth-century English engage crowd-based political action. contemporary, post-socialist eastern Mongolia, have constructed pervasive local discourse is legitimate (“merit-making” or buyantai ) versus illegitimate behavior morally-condones their illegal wildlife procurement, selling, smuggling activities. The contexts these case studies are compared order detail similar political-economic progression: (1) recent market liberalization commons, sparking outrage amongst those classes newly disadvantaged through this shift market; (2) formation an anti-profiteering classes, designed limit ability others economically capitalize off circumstances. Comparing studies, manifested as exchange practices involving commons-marked goods distribute benefits participants, envisioned thereby promoting group wellbeing rather than uneven accumulation by individuals.