Hawkers, workers or entrepreneurs? : the economic and social nature of street sellers at the outdoor marketplace in Valletta

Abstract

This dissertation looks at the situation of street sellers at the longstanding outdoor marketplace in Valletta known as ‘Il- Monti’. It is essentially a study of the social and economic ties that have kept the Monti running till today. At the time of my research there was an ongoing debate about the relocation of the Monti to another location in Valletta, Malta’s capital city. Research was conducted through participant observation as well as a questionnaire survey of Monti sellers. This glimpse of the Monti sellers’ working life aims to explore the extent to which they engage in entrepreneurial activities, as well as their career aspirations as market sellers. The analysis reveals that the Monti can be likened to descriptions niche markets in West Africa with which it shares common characteristics. The conclusion suggests that one reason why the Monti sellers feel marginalised and unwanted by the public and struggle to have their voices heard is that the Monti’s niche as a very visible supply of cheap goods prominently located in the capital city is not well understood.