Linking Spatial, Gender, and Climate Inequalities for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Bangladesh

Achieving inclusive and sustainable growth remains a critical challenge for Bangladesh, where rapid expansion coexists with widening spatial, gender, and climate-linked inequalities. This study develops a multidimensional framework that integrates environmental, social, and economic sustainability perspectives to assess how redistributive policies can accelerate structural transformation. We employ mixed methods, combining a 2,400-household survey across 12 districts, productivity data from 180 ready-made garment factories, and secondary sources (NASA SEDAC, CHIRPS rainfall series, Bangladesh Bank). Analytical tools include spatial regression, computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling, and dynamic policy simulation. Results show that (i) 42% of district-level development variance is explained by spatial disparities, (ii) major climate disasters reduce female labor force participation by 11.3 percentage points compared with 3.1 points for men, and (iii) a progressive wealth tax (0.5–2.5%) could finance universal secondary education by 2035, generating 1.2% of GDP in revenue while sustaining growth above 6%. Simulations suggest this policy package could lower the Gini coefficient by 0.07. These findings challenge trickle-down assumptions and demonstrate that equity-oriented fiscal reforms enhance both inclusion and sustainability. Limitations include reliance on current datasets and simplified modeling assumptions, underscoring the need for panel data and political economy analysis. The framework provides novel insights into the spatial–gender–climate nexus and offers transferable lessons for late-industrializing, climate-vulnerable economies.