Bridging the Gap

Small vendors and street businesses form the vibrant backbone of many economies contributing significantly to economic growth and community resilience. Yet these essential entrepreneurs often face overwhelming challenges particularly the burden of predatory lending practices. This book Bridging the Gap: Empowering Small Vendors against Predatory Lending aims to shed light on these critical issues and propose comprehensive actionable solutions.Drawing from over 15 years of experience as an economist and finance professor and enriched by countless personal interviews and discussions with small business owners this book presents a unique blend of theoretical insights and practical realities. The narratives within capture the struggles and resilience of vendors from Mumbai to Kolkata offering a vivid picture of their economic plight and the systemic issues that perpetuate their financial instability.