The Moral Economy of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh: <i>Dharma</i>, Gender and Social Change
Summary. Microfinance in rural Bangladesh operates through a moral economy that reinforces existing social hierarchies rather than challenging them. Fieldworkers use moral narratives to legitimize microfinance among men, while framing women's borrowing as dharma—a moral duty to secure male guardianship. Rather than empowering borrowers to escape poverty, microfinance motivates conformity to gendered and hierarchical norms, explaining why people continue borrowing despite underwhelming outcomes.
Cite this article
Maîtrot, M.. (2021). The Moral Economy of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh: <i>Dharma</i>, Gender and Social Change. Development and Change. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12700
Maîtrot, Mathilde. “The Moral Economy of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh: <i>Dharma</i>, Gender and Social Change.” Development and Change, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12700.
Maîtrot, Mathilde. 2021. “The Moral Economy of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh: <i>Dharma</i>, Gender and Social Change.” Development and Change. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12700.
@article{ma-trot-2021-moral-economy-microfinance-rural-bangladesh,
title = {The Moral Economy of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh: <i>Dharma</i>, Gender and Social Change},
author = {Mathilde Maîtrot},
journal = {Development and Change},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1111/dech.12700},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12700}
}
TY - JOUR TI - The Moral Economy of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh: <i>Dharma</i>, Gender and Social Change AU - Mathilde Maîtrot JO - Development and Change PY - 2021 DO - 10.1111/dech.12700 UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12700 ER -