Private solidarity in the agglomeration of Antananarivo (Madagascar) in 1997: famangiana (visits), cohabitation, financial and material mutual aid.

Summary The thesis is devoted to the study of three forms of "solidarity" in the agglomeration of Antananarivo (Madagascar): famangiana, or visits accompanied by a gift, carried out on the occasion of certain events; cohabitation within the same household; and material and financial mutual aid between different households. Famangia are a widespread practice (77% of households have made one in three months), and are more common when an unfortunate event (a death) occurs than when a happy event (a birth) occurs. Households' participation in this Malagasy custom is determined by the size of their network of relations, while the amounts of the gifts they make are determined by economic factors (notably their income). Cohabitation within the same household is essentially between parents and their children, and is a massive phenomenon, since very few people live alone (less than 2%). Intergenerational cohabitation (between adult children and their parents) seems to benefit young people more than their parents. Finally, financial and material mutual aid with other households concerned two out of three households in the Antananarivo agglomeration over a six-month period. The balance of the agglomeration with respect to the rest of the world is largely positive, due in particular to the aid received from abroad. Most of the transfers take place between parents and their children, but, unlike cohabitation, for financial and material mutual aid, the balance is largely favorable to the parents.