Guérin Isabelle auteur aut IRD D'Espallier B. auteur aut IRD Venkatasubramanian G. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access This micro-level study combines multivariate and qualitative analyses to highlight the fragmented nature of debt in southern Indian rural households. It finds that debt is socially regulated in the sense that social interactions shape the cost, use and access to debt. Caste, social class and location affect how individuals borrow varying amounts from distinct money providers, for varied purposes and at differing costs. Debt thus is not purely an economic but first and foremost a social transaction which inscribes debtors and creditors into local systems of hierarchies. Furthermore, we find that debt is an illustration and catalyst of broader socio-economic and political trends, namely a lack of social protection, persistent under-employment and rising consumerism. In terms of policy implications, the study highlights the ambiguities and illusions inherent to financial inclusion' policies aiming to eradicate informal debt. specialized INDE 098 095 49 9 1155-1171 2013 0022-0388 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061313 10.1080/00220388.2012.720365 0022-0388 [F B010061313] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061313 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2013/12/010061313.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2013-12-23 2026-01-15 fdi:010061313 fre