The four-Wheeled Cart of Life: Running on Oil on the Road, Struggling with Efforts on the Roadside- A Study on Socio-Economic Role of Urban Street Food Vendors.

Abstract

The formal infrastructure and mechanized transport systems drive urban economic activities while street food vendors who use four-wheeled carts represent an essential yet hidden operational sector. The research investigates how street food vendors in urban areas contribute to employment creation and food security, which supports the economic development of their communities. The vendors who operate in areas with heavy traffic use their physical abilities and low-cost methods as proof of their ability to withstand challenges in the informal job market.

The study employs a mixed-method research design which combines descriptive-analytical methods with quantitative economic data collection and qualitative research of business obstacles. The research investigates three main areas, which include studying income patterns and dependency ratios and working conditions and physical labor intensity and spatial marginalization of vendors. The research shows that street food vendors operate as micro-entrepreneurs who provide low-cost ready-to-eat meals, which support low- and middle-income urban residents. Their work results in indirect job creation, which helps drive economic activity within the local community.

The research findings show that institutions need to improve their systems for recognizing spaces and providing support to users. The study recommends that urban planning systems should create inclusive policies and designated areas for street food vendors to operate their business activities. The recognition of the "four-wheeled cart of life" as a fundamental urban economic element serves as the basis for building environmentally sound and socially just urban development systems.