Urban appropriation and transformation : bicycle taxi and handcart operators in Mzuzu, Malawi / Ignasio Malizani Jimu.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jimu, Ignasio Malizani.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Informal sector (Economics)--Malawi--Mzuzu.

Informal sector (Economics).

Urban poor--Employment--Malawi--Mzuzu.

Urban poor.

Local transit--Malawi--Mzuzu.

Local transit.

Mzuzu (Malawi)--Economic conditions.

Mzuzu (Malawi).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (162 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Mankon, Bamenda : Langaa Research & Publishing CIG, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book is about emerging informal responses to unemployment in Malawi. To the bicycle taxi and handcart operators who are at the centre of the book, informality is a means for negotiating newer experiences and challenges associated with urbanisation. Jimu richly documents how informal economy activities continue to represent grassroots responses to widespread poverty, unavailability of meaningful employment opportunities and the failure of the state as well as the private and the non-state sectors to respond to escalating demand for formal sector jobs. Multiplicity of activities and straddl

Contents:

Cover; Title page; Copyright page; Dedication; Contents; List of Figures; List of Tables; List of Photos; Acronyms; Acknowledgements; Summary; Chapter One - OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY; Nature of the study; Framework of the study; Data and methods; Organisation of the book; Chapter Two - OVERVIEW OF THE INFORMAL ECONOMY; Informal economy in perspective; Characteristics of the informal economy; The informal economy and the development debate; Which way forward for the informal economy; Conclusion; Chapter Three - CONTEXT OF THE STUDY; Geographic position; Population trends; Socio-economic context

Structure of the agricultural sectorLocation of Mzuzu; Historical roots of Mzuzu; Mzuzu's population trends past and present; Conclusion; Chapter Four - URBANISATION IN MALAWI; Urban development in Malawi; Characteristics of urbanisation in Malawi; Conclusion; Chapter Five - THE URBAN INFORMAL ECONOMY IN MALAWI; Magnitude and characteristics of the informal economy in Malawi; Rural-urban differences in informal economy activities; Factors that have shaped the structure and evolution of the informal economy; Conclusion; Chapter Six - INFORMALITY OF BICYCLE TAXIS AND HANDCARTS

Urbanisation and transportationOverview of transportation in Mzuzu; Bicycle taxis and handcarts or wheelbarrows in Mzuzu; Opportunities for operators and organisation of operations; Challenges faced by the operators; Overcoming the challenges; Conclusion; Chapter Seven - SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE OPERATORS; Rural roots and transitory stay in the city; Socio-demographic characteristics of the operators; Dynamics of residence in Mzuzu; Conclusion; Chapter Eight - ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE OPERATORS; Employment and unemployment; Length of involvement in bicycle taxi and handcart business

Motives for engaging in bicycle taxi and handcart businessPerceptions of and satisfaction with income levels from respective activities; Straddling the formal/informal divide; Patronage of bicycle taxis and handcarts; Conclusion; Chapter Nine - APPROPRIATING URBANISATION THROUGH SOCIO-ECONOMIC INFORMALITY; Informality as a way of life; Significance of bicycle taxi and handcart or wheelbarrow operations; Conclusion; Chapter Ten - REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUDING DISCUSSIONS; Reflections on socio-economic informality; Future directions; Bibliography; Back cover

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-141).

ISBN:

9786613198679

9781283198677

1283198673

9789956717514

9956717517

9789956717637

9956717630

9789956615940

9956615943

OCLC:

830165884