Understanding of the Socio-Economic Benefits of Rural Home Based Enterprises (HBEs) Through the Framework of Livelihood Resources

Abstract

This article investigates the socio-economic benefits of Home Based Enterprises (HBEs) within the settings of rural housing in Sirajganj, Bangladesh. Households’ livelihood resources are engaged and affected widely by the HBEs and reciprocally the HBEs are also affected by them. Some households practice HBE only for their subsistence and some are involved for their household development. A major number of family members are engaged with the HBE. When HBE is practiced within the rural households, the livelihood receives some extended dimensions of socio-economic benefits. These benefits are studied for the six selected cases, identified as permanent and floating households. The selected case study HBEs are analyzed with reference to the analytical scale factors of livelihood resources. A comparison of the socio-economic benefits of the cases of permanent and floating homesteads context is drawn through the data analysis.