The ecology of street vending: A review with policy implications

Operating businesses on the public pavement is controversial. Street vending causes a public nuisance because of the illegal use of public space, making the pavement dirty, and blocking traffic. Yet it is a viable option for those facing economic hardship; it serves as a social safety net for the unemployed (Bhowmik, 2005; Nirathron, 2006; Saha, 2009). Thus selling in urban spaces is a sensitive political issue for which governments require appropriate policies to balance the benefits and costs (Kusakabe, 2006).