Urban Poverty in Bangladesh: Slum Communities, Migration and Social Integration (Library of Development Studies)

Synopsis

This exploration of urban poverty in Bangladesh seeks to make a contribution to the understanding and analysis of the phenomenon of rapid mass urbanisation and its social consequences, specifically the formation of huge urban slums and new forms of urban poverty. Its focus is the analysis of poverty, which has been overwhelmingly dominated by economic approaches, thus neglecting the social questions arising from poverty. This book seeks to redress the balance by approaching social questions and conceptualising urban poverty through its inclusion of both material and non-material dimensions. It is based on data collected from over 500 poor households living in Dhaka slums. The survey data is supplemented by qualitative data collected through a number of in-depth interviews with poor communities. It reveals that poverty in Dhaka slums is most strongly influenced by recent migration from rural areas, household organisation, participation in the 'informal' sector of the economy and access to housing and land. Almost half of the urban poor were identified as 'hardcore poor' that is having insufficient income for their physical needs. The remainder were found to be 'absolute poor', those who experienced poverty and vulnerability but varied in their levels of income and consumption. This level of poverty was also characterised by their social, cultural and political marginalisation. Despite living in the city for a long period of time they are often excluded from urban institutions. The urban poor remain very much dependent on their families and social networking, the main social capital they use to adapt to urban life. It argues that the experience of poverty for slum communities in the megacity of Dhaka follows the pattern of urbanisation without development, the very opposite to their expectations and aspirations. This book will be essential for those working in the areas of urban studies, development studies, Asian studies and sociology and social policy studies.

Copyright:

2010

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

272 Pages

ISBN-13:

9780857719256

Related ISBNs:

9781848854703

Publisher:

Bloomsbury Publishing

Date of Addition:

02/23/19

Copyrighted By:

N/A

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Business and Finance, Social Studies, Sociology

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.