ABSTRACT
The regulation of street trade has long been a subject of political contention and academic study. This chapter outlines key insights from the past 20 years of research on four areas of regulation as they apply to street trade: licensing regimes; spatial regulations; enforcement provisions; and taxation. The analysis shows how recent studies have advanced our understanding of the urban policies and political coalitions that drive regulation. The chapter then highlights important lessons from the day-to-day realities of street trade that are under-researched, and points to promising areas for future research based on the field experience of WIEGO and StreetNet International, the global federation of street vendor organisations. Three areas for further study are recommended: the ongoing efforts of street vendors’ organisations to engage with government entities; the impact of formalisation approaches on vendors who fall between the vulnerable poor and the entrepreneurial middle class; and the lived experiences and perceptions of street vendors themselves.
