Clips and Interviews, Changing Tides Conference. Interview with Ralph Matthews

• Main Author: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Division of Extension Service (Producer)
• Other Authors: Matthews, Ralph, 1943- (Interviewee), Memorial University of Newfoundland. Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)
• Format: Moving Image (Video)
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University Extension Service 1985
• Subjects: Regionalism; Regional economics > Newfoundland and Labrador; Rural development > Newfoundland and Labrador; Regional planning; Fishery management; Social Sciences; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/extension/id/280

Interview with Ralph Matthews, professor of Sociology at McMaster University. Discusses the nature of regionalism; differing views of planners and the people on the economic viability of rural Newfoundland. In small communities, economic, social and political/legal organization is often informal and communally developed. Planners bring a simple cost-benefit analysis of formal markets to their assessment of rural communities. Current planning theory considers government involvement (e.g. through transfer payments) a major cause of underdevelopment by forestalling the inevitable collapse of non-viable communities. Planners view underdevelopment as of some kind of lack (lack theory) in resources, character, etc. Real reason may be a process rather than a condition--the centralized economy which draws capital, people and resources out of the region. The fishery as the employment of last resort; licensing and regulation is intended to create a professional fishery. Casual, part-time workers are thus marginalized.