Keith Hart (anthropologist)

Keith Hart (1943-2021) was a British economic anthropologist best known for his work on informal economies, money, and human possibilities. His theoretical contributions centered around developing a critical perspective on development economics and promoting alternative models of social and economic organization based on the principles of freedom, equality, and mutual aid.

Hart's early research, conducted in Ghana in the late 1960s and early 1970s, focused on the "informal economy," a term he coined to describe economic activities that are unregulated, untaxed, and often outside of formal wage labor. This work challenged prevailing assumptions about modernization and development, arguing that informal economies were not simply a transitional phase but a resilient and vital part of urban life in developing countries. He viewed the informal economy as a site of both exploitation and opportunity, a space where people could exercise autonomy and creativity in the face of economic hardship.

Throughout his career, Hart explored the social and cultural dimensions of money, arguing that it is not merely a neutral medium of exchange but a powerful symbol that shapes social relations and values. He investigated the historical evolution of money forms, from gift exchange to digital currencies, and examined the ways in which money can both connect and divide people.

Hart was a prolific writer and thinker, whose work spanned a wide range of topics, including globalization, technology, inequality, and the future of work. He advocated for a more humane and equitable world, one in which all people have the opportunity to realize their full potential. His later work often focused on the concept of the "human economy," an alternative model of economic organization that prioritizes human needs and values over profit maximization.

Hart held academic positions at several universities, including Yale, Cambridge, and Goldsmiths, University of London. He was also a visiting professor and research fellow at numerous institutions around the world. He was a founding member of the World Anthropology journal and a key figure in the development of the Open Anthropology Cooperative.

His major publications include:

• The Political Economy of West African Agriculture (1982)
• Money, Debt and Social Life (2000)
• The Memory Bank: Money in an Unequal World (2000)
• Economic Anthropology (2011) (co-authored with Chris Hann)
• Self, Society and Money: New Essays in Sociological Theory (2013)