Slums and entrepreneurship as an impact of urban poverty and social exclusion in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation encourages rural poor to migrate into urban areas in search of better economic and living condition. In Bangladesh, alike other developing countries, these migrated people often suffer from urban poverty and social exclusion; unequal wealth and income distribution, lack or low level of entrepreneurial opportunities due to socio-economic and religious forces, etc. make them marginalised urban poor. Slums, the physical manifestation of poverty and exclusions, provide shelter to this large urban poor labour force. A knowledge gap exists in Dhaka's slum discourse regarding the impact of these inter-linked phenomena. The study investigates Dhaka's three slum communities to understand livelihood development constraints lacking entrepreneurial prospects resulting from the vicious cycle of urban poverty and social exclusion. Empirical investigation and literature review reveal, prevailing inadequate physical environment, suppressed socio-economic or cultural capitals hinder entrepreneurial activities. Findings may facilitate future research on entrepreneurship in urban slums to reduce such social inequality.