Socioeconomic Contribution of Informal Trading Practices on Streets by Youth in Ethiopia: The Case of Bole Sub-City in Addis Ababa City Administration

Abstract

This study assessed the socio-economic contributions of informal trading practices on streets by youth aged 15 to 29 in Addis Ababa, Bole Sub-city. It examined and plainly presented multifaceted challenges that different parties are encountered due to illegal street vending practice. The study has insightfully reviewed and collected data both from primary and secondary data sources that matches with research title, target area and population. To get the real phenomena of the issue, data gathered with a qualitative research approach through methods of in-depth interview and personal observation. Explanatory research design has executed for the purpose of this study. The in-depth key interviews and personal observations applied rightly at convenient and purposively selected areas in Bole Sub-city. A total of 71 respondents that include Youth street vendors, government officials, pedestrians, customers, formal traders, drivers, traffic polices and cleaners who were randomly as well as purposively selected were mainly participated in this study. Qualitative analysis of the qualitative data could be conducted through a method of content analysis, narrative analysis and discourse analysis. Hence, the findings of the study proved that street vending is significantly providing manifold benefits for both the street venders and customers. Since it requires small capital, youth are easily engage and use it as a bridge to start formal trading. However, the study also found out the multifaceted challenges among and between street vendors, government and customers and/or the public. Street vending has multiple adverse effects on the formal traders, pedestrians, traffic jam, stealing and taxing system. On the other hand, street vendors themselves served different challenges and difficulties that came from the government side such as biting, confiscations, prisoning and others.