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Rising poverty rates, increases in joblessness, and the depletion of traditional means of livelihood (such as agriculture and large industry), are all forces working to diminish the ability for the rural Appalachian to make a living (Appalachian Regional Commission, 1993). Many rural development professionals interested in cultivating new options are including the concept of the cooperative as a tool for economic development. However, there is some controversy over whether the cooperative form of organization is an optimal method of economic development for rural America. The same had been said about tourism as a contributor to economic development. This thesis uses case study analysis to examine three current cooperatives and their contributions to the community, using a Weberian lens of formal versus substantive rationality. Results indicated a tentative relationship between amount and type of contributions of the tourism-related cooperative organization and type of rationality for its existence. / Master of Science

CH$ sb4$ and CO$ sb2$ fluxes were measured in upland boreal forest soils, over the period May 16$ sp{ rm th}$ through Sept. 16$ sp{ rm th}$, 1994, among a variety of vegetation and drainage characteristics. Most upland soils consumed CH$ sb4$, (0.6 to $-$2.6 mg CH$ sb4$ m$ sp{-2}$ d$ sp{-1}$), and produced CO$ sb2$, (0.2 to 26.8 g CO$ sb2$ m$ sp{-2}$ d$ sp{-1}$). CH$ sb4$ consumption showed no seasonal trend, however CO$ sb2$ flux displayed an increasing rate until late August, after which flux rates began to decrease. Differences among the sites examined showed soil temperature and organic matter content to be the primary controls in predicting seasonal mean CH$ sb4$ flux rates. Similarly for CO$ sb2$ flux, soil temperature and C content proved to be the best predictors of seasonal mean differences among the range of sites examined. / Sites could be divided into 2 categories, strong CH$ sb4$ consuming and CO$ sb2$ producing sites, Gillam Aspen, Gillam Pine, OBS Aspen, Burn Moss, Palsa Birch, and YJP Dry and weak CH$ sb4$ consuming and CO$ sb2$ producing sites, Gillam Spruce, OBS Spruce, YJP Wet, Burn Spruce and Palsa Moss. The strong flux sites all exhibited similar trends in soil characteristics as they were the warmest, driest sites with faster nutrient cycling processes and thin ($ sim$2 to 10 cm) organic layers. The weak flux sites were colder, wetter, with slower nutrient cycling, and a thick organic/peat layer ($ sim$20 to 50 cm). The primary visual distinction between these two groups was the presence of a Sphagnum sp. ground cover, which was characteristic of weak CH$ sb4$ consuming and CO$ sb2$ producing sites.

This thesis examines factors that determine household reliance on interlinked informal credit contracts for fish in the Peruvian Amazon, and the degree to which implicit interest rates in these contracts are explained by transaction costs, administrative costs and lender risk. / A probit model was used to determine household likelihood to borrow, using survey data collected in the region. This likelihood is found to depend on access to alternative activities to generate income, household resilience to income volatility, and demographics: age, education and mobility. / High implicit interest rates (112%) are not explained by the average costs (67%) incurred by local lenders. Market access and household demand elasticity seem to be the main factors determining the degree to which forest peasants are exploited. Local lenders are found to receive credit at rates below the cost to non-resident lenders who use the credit relationship to secure a supply of fish.