Pattern of Community Economy in KhonKaen Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this study were to analyze the changes of community economy livelihood under the process of capitalism. The study employed the concept of community economy. In-depth interviews were applied through guided questions, including 107 key informants and 461 household representatives. The study was found that the first of community economy pattern was agriculture for their sustenance which based on rice cotton and hemp. Although they were used technology in their farms as chemical and walking tractor that   changed in the community economy pattern to become the mode of commercial agriculture. At the same period by improving the transportation system to become pave road that made more communities linked and led some communities’ labors  become full time migration to work outside their communities. Moreover by communities infrastructure improvement and level of education for new generation was higher, these conditions  caused  changes in the community economy pattern by becoming more non-agricultural occupation. These conditions also changed new generation to choose  their occupation to become employees in some companies or industrial factories in Khon Kaen, Bangkok and Chonburi provinces. It may be  said that changes in community economy pattern in Khon Kaen province had been adapted to suit the context of economy and society that were influenced by capitalism at the different periods and also indicated that external resources are important factors  for the said community economic adaptation.