Regulatory discretion, social networks and negotiated orders in street food regulations: a qualitative analysis of street food regulations in urban Ghana. Issue 3 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Forkuor, John Boulard; Agyemang, Eric; Odongo, Douglas Attoh
• Is Part Of: Journal of contemporary African studies. Volume 38:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 499
• Page End: 513
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Street foods -- urban regulations -- discretion -- social networks -- negotiated order -- street level bureaucrats; Africa -- Periodicals; Africa -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Africa -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 960
• DOI: 10.1080/02589001.2020.1778649
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0258-9001

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Challenges with employment have ensured that street food vending has become a relevant economic activity for urban dwellers in developing economies. Consequently, city governments have come up with regulations to guide the sale of street food. This research investigated the use of discretion by street food regulators, social networks and relations between regulators and street food vendors and other negotiated agreements and their implications for the effective regulation of street foods. The research reveals that the use of discretion by regulators has potential negative implications for the implementation of street food laws since regulators overlook important aspects of regulatory laws. This research has also confirmed how street food vendors do not passively accept the discretionary decisions of regulators but rather actively engage in practices (establishing social networks and giving gifts) aimed at influencing the implementation of street food laws by regulatory authorities. This research recommends that future improvements to street food regulations must focus on helping regulators to use discretion defensively and learn how to work as agents of both the state and its citizens at the same time.