Debtor Development? Investigating the Constraints of Microcredit on Sustainability

This thesis critically examines the limitations of microcredit programs in promoting sustainable development, with a focus on women borrowers in Bangladesh. Using qualitative research, the study explores how access to microfinance can create debt dependency, reinforce household inequalities, and generate unintended socio-economic pressures, despite its empowerment rhetoric. The findings highlight the conditions under which microcredit contributes to genuine development versus when it perpetuates vulnerabilities, offering insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking more equitable and sustainable financial inclusion strategies.

• Supervision