Net span of holes: inter-household supporting network among roma and non-roma poor

Abstract

The study analyses inter-household supporting networks among Roma and non-Roma poor households. I concentrate on one dimension of relationships: what material and non-material relationships support the subsistence of poor households. Due to the datasets in reach characteristics of supporting relationships of the total population, of Roma and non-Roma in similar narrow circumstances may be compared. The most remarkable result of the research is that the non-Roma poor households are significantly richer in their supporting networks than Roma poor households. Moreover, characteristics of supporting inter-household networks of Roma depend largely on their regional location as well as on ethnic identity, history and traditions of inter-ethnic relations of the given region. As a conclusion I formulate further research questions the analyses of which may lead closer to the understanding of diversity and differing subsistence strategies of the population considered as Roma.