No abstract

No abstract

Much effort goes into building markets as a tool for economic and social development; those pursuing or promoting market huilding, however, often overlook that in too many places social exclusion and poverty prevent many, especially women, from participating in and accessing markets. Building on data from rural Bangladesh and analyzing the work of a prominent intermediary organization, we uncover institutional voids as the source of market exclusion and identify two sets of activities-redefining market architecture and legitimating new actors-^as critical for huilding inclusive markets. We expose voids as analytical spaces and illustrate how they result from conflict and contradiction among institutional bits and pieces from local political, community, and religious spheres. Our findings put forward a perspective on market huilding that highlights the on-the-ground dynamics and attends to the institutions at play, to their consequences, and to a more diverse set of inhabitants of institutions. If someone who has no property rights under the law, who has had no formal education, who has no legal right to divorce, who will very likely be beaten if sbe seeks employment outside the home, says that she endorses traditions of modesty, purity, and selfabnegation, it is not clear that we should consider this the last word on the matter.-Marta Nussbaum This article is the outcome of a truly collaborative effort, and all three authors contributed equally. Although our work is about breaking conventions, we for once adhere to conventions in publishing and list authors in alphabetical order. We would like to tbank Tima Bansal for ber exceptional guidance and tbree anon)rmous reviewers who encouraged and helped us to find and refine the empirical and theoretical nuggets in this project. This article would not have been possible without BRAG and the people that make BRAG. We particularly thank Fazle Abed for sharing insights and wisdom. We are also grateful for the following people who graciously shared their concerns and suggestions: