Surviving under limitations: Street vendors’ self-organized adaptation to limited infrastructure in urban public space

Abstract

Street vendors are vital to urban economies in the Global South, supporting urban food security, employment opportunities, and affordable goods and services. Previous studies in the Global North indicate that street vending is typically supported by formal infrastructure, including permanent kiosks, electricity connections, and sanitation facilities. However, in the Global South, street vendors must operate despite limited infrastructure. This study explores how their self-organized adaptation strategies enable them to survive despite minimal infrastructure. Conducted in Kajen Town Square, Pekalongan, Indonesia, this study employs a quantitative methodology, utilizing cross-tabulation and descriptive analysis based on survey responses from 94 street vendors. The findings indicate that infrastructure availability does not significantly determine location choice; rather, foot traffic and consumer potential predominantly influence vendors’ location decisions. To overcome infrastructural constraints, vendors implement various self-organized strategies, either individually or through community organizations, including shared electricity access and independent provision of clean water. This study reveals how street vendors adapt to infrastructure scarcity through self-organized strategies, a topic rarely explored in existing literature. It provides new perspectives for understanding the dynamics of the street vendor ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of inclusive urban planning that aligns with the realities of the informal economy in the Global South.