ABSTRACT
Local street markets play a central role in livelihood security. They represent physical places where resources vital to household economies are traded. As Seaman (2000) notes, “most economic shocks don’t lead to starvation, rather, to impoverishment from the sale of assets” (134). As the epicenter of local commerce, street markets play a critical role in interpreting and analyzing the nature of crisis conditions. They are also hubs of information exchange and socializing. Thus, their dynamics are crucial to understanding both food availability and access (Lautze 1999). Vendor knowledge is also vital. As observers of and participants in their communities, they are keenly aware of changes in demand for and availability of goods and services. Because they are embedded in localized contexts, information that they provide can enhance interpretations of price fluctuations.
