Entrepreneurial Creativity as a Catalyst for Poverty Alleviation in Tangail District, Bangladesh
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/sajssh.2026.7306Keywords:
Entrepreneurial creativity; Poverty alleviation; Micro-entrepreneurship; Employment generation; Tangail district; Mixed methods.Abstract
Poverty remains a persistent challenge in Bangladesh, with national rates estimated at approximately 21.2% by 2025. Despite various interventions, sustainable poverty alleviation remains hindered by limited formal employment opportunities and low productivity in rural areas. This study examines the influences of entrepreneurial creativity on job creation, household income, and multidimensional poverty alleviation among micro-entrepreneurs in Tangail district. Adopting a mixed-methods approach within a convergent parallel design, the research was conducted in three upazilas (Tangail Sadar, Basail and Delduar). Data were collected from 100 micro-entrepreneurs through a structured questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. A creativity index was developed from five Likert scale items to quantify entrepreneurial creativity. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were thematically analysed according to Braun and Clarke (2006). Results indicate a moderate level of entrepreneurial creativity (M = 1.99 for Creativity Index). The Creativity Index has a statistically significant positive effect on employment generation (B = 3.22, p = .008). Binary logit analysis revealed a marginally significant association with higher family income (marginal effect = +0.14, p < 0.10). In addition, 59% of respondents reported positive changes in family income, food security, education spending and financial stability. Creativity levels were highest in Delduar Upazila among the selected areas. The study concludes that entrepreneurial creativity contributes to poverty alleviation primarily through job creation rather than direct income gains for the entrepreneur. It recommends creative thinking training, innovative microfinance, and market linkage programs to strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship in rural Bangladesh.
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