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How do the poor handle money? What do the financial diaries of char dwellers tell us about financial inclusion?

Author

Listed:
  • Kuntala Lahiri–Dutt

Abstract

Derived from livelihoods surveys and ethnographic material about people living on the chars, or river islands, in deltaic lower Bengal, this paper illustrates the complex, diverse and ingenious ways that the poor manage money. These islands constitute some of the most vulnerable locations housing some of the poorest communities; state services and facilities do not reach the chars because they are not listed as land in revenue records. It demonstrates that the poor live in a diverse economy where community spirit, family assistance and trust play roles equally important to markets. In doing so, it puts forth a grounded-in-the-field, evidence-based, critique of the slogan 'financial inclusion' that has gained prominence in recent years.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuntala Lahiri–Dutt, 2012. "How do the poor handle money? What do the financial diaries of char dwellers tell us about financial inclusion?," ASARC Working Papers 2012-16, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:pas:asarcc:2012-16
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    File URL: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/acde/asarc/pdf/papers/2012/WP2012_16.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial diary; Financial inclusion; Micro‐finance; India; Char;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System

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