Micronesian Counselor, Issue 37

Hezel, Francis X. (2001-01-01). Micronesian Counselor, Issue 37. Micronesian Counselor (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Micronesian Seminar. pp. 1–10.

• Has attachment: File:RXNYT3FT.pdf

Abstract: The lead article, Family and Business in Micronesia, by Francis X. Hezel, S.J., examines the tension between traditional obligations of family sharing and the financial discipline required to operate a business. It begins with the example of a hotel owner refusing a relative’s request for free drinks, a decision criticized as “un-Micronesian,” and uses such cases to illustrate how family expectations often clash with business practices.

Additional sections provide examples of shopkeepers in Chuuk and Pohnpei who suffer financial losses from extending credit or giving goods to relatives, and describe cooperative business models in Yap designed to ease these pressures. The issue also mentions training workshops in the Marshall Islands for new entrepreneurs, highlighting practical efforts to reconcile cultural obligations with sustainable business management.