Vulnerability in Rural Bangladesh: Learning from Life History Interviews

This paper explores the nature of vulnerability and its relationship to chronic poverty in rural Bangladesh drawing from 293 life-history interviews conducted by the author and a small team of researchers in rural Bangladesh in 2007. The aim of the paper is to provide insights into causal processes, within contextual detail, in order to complement quantitative research into patterns of vulnerability and to inform social protection policy. The paper explores vulnerability as a key aspect of poverty and takes a longitudinal and multidimensional perspective. The paper focuses on causes of long-term wellbeing decline in poor people’s lives, explored as the combination of: a lack of opportunities, or impeded ability to exploit opportunities; exposure to acute ‘shocks’ and chronic downward pressures; and the long-term diminution of coping resources. [Working Paper No. 196] URL: [http://www.chronicpoverty.org/uploads/publication_files/WP196%20Davis.pdf]