Pubusi

Pubusi is custom in the independent nation of Kiribati. In the culture of Kiribati, a person may ask a neighbor for any material possession. The action of so doing is "pubusi".

If denied the request can lead to a major loss of face [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/science/earth/08seaw.html?ref=science Corals, Already in Danger, Face New Threat in Algae Grown by People - NYTimes.com ] ] , and so is rarely refused. This embedded cultural practice may explain their nonconsumer attitude, which along with a relaxed islander attitude, leads to a very low GDP as measured by the standards of developed nations.

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