ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the motivation and the broader context of this study while relating the topic to the wider literature on the small firms. We argue out in this chapter why the questions set out in the this book merit investigation in the context of India, and how the study would contribute to the existing literature of developing countries on ownership and firm performance and access to finance. This chapter also provides an overview of the MSME sector in India and discusses its importance in the Indian economy. In order to contextualise the main focus of this study, the chapter also reflects upon the prevailing views on the presence of gender-wise and caste-wise disparities in economic opportunities. We then briefly discuss the methods and data sources employed in the study to address our main questions. This chapter, in short, sets out the main arguments of the book, describes the data and methods employed in the analysis and delineates the contents of each chapter.
