Struggles of living in the city — Ethnographic study of street vendors in Shanghai

摘要

In China, street vendors have played important roles in urban economic and social development. They have not only released the pressure of employment, provided affordable goods to residents, but also made the monotonous urban space vibrant. However, the government views these vendors as public nuisances and does not recognize their legal status. So most street vendors in China are illegal and face tough times to make a living in the city. This thesis investigates the current situation of illegal street vendors and examines the related regulation and enforcement from the perspective of street vendors. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in Shanghai, this thesis presents the working life of street vendors to show the impacts of their illegal status, and their everyday resistance in surviving, negotiating and challenging the exclusion policy. The findings indicate the current policies and regulations toward street vendors are inefficient and injustice. The right of vendors and their vending activities are severely limited. Moreover, some implications are provided for local governments and authorities to develop new approaches to promote street vending.