Thanh Pham Tien, Duong Pham Bao
Faculty of Business Administration, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Faculty of Economics and Rural Development, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Cities. 2022 Nov;130:103879. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103879. Epub 2022 Jul 28.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous detrimental impacts on a global scale. Street vendors are one of the most heavily affected groups since they lack the skills and resources to overcome shocks. This study examines the economic burden facing this group during the pandemic and their coping strategies and mitigation mechanisms in response to these adverse effects. We utilized a mixed-methods approach, wherein 91 women vendors completed a survey questionnaire and 15 women vendors were interviewed. These vendors were found to experience a large reduction in business and consumption. The businesses of immigrant vendors suffered more adverse effects than those of local vendors. Also, the vendors selling in wet market areas incurred greater economic burdens than those selling near schools or recreation centers. The vendors lacked coping strategies to sustain their businesses and adopted various mitigation mechanisms to ensure essential consumption. This study highlights the need for urban social policies that can support this vulnerable group amid a pandemic. We also discuss policy implications for cities and economic development with a focus on street vendors.
新冠疫情在全球范围内造成了巨大的不利影响。街头小贩是受影响最严重的群体之一，因为他们缺乏应对冲击的技能和资源。本研究考察了这一群体在疫情期间面临的经济负担，以及他们应对这些不利影响的策略和缓解机制。我们采用了混合研究方法，其中91名女性小贩完成了调查问卷，15名女性小贩接受了访谈。结果发现，这些小贩的生意和消费大幅减少。移民小贩的生意比本地小贩遭受的不利影响更大。此外，在湿货市场区域售卖的小贩比在学校或娱乐中心附近售卖的小贩承受着更大的经济负担。小贩们缺乏维持生意的应对策略，于是采取了各种缓解机制来确保基本消费。本研究强调了在疫情期间需要有能够支持这一弱势群体的城市社会政策。我们还讨论了对城市和经济发展的政策影响，重点关注街头小贩。
