A Strategic Policy Initiative for the Post-relocation of Street Vendors: Case of Surakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Street vendors have emerged as a form of social response to maintain the survival of communities in going through economic challenges. However, street vendors have begun to have an uncontrolled growth; hence create social issues, particularly in large cities. In Surakarta, Indonesia, the relocation process of street vendors has been successfully executed by the municipal government. They have successfully managed to make street vendors agree to peacefully move to another area. Apparently, the relocation program is only sustained for several years. Most of street vendors have returned to their previous location, creating a huge chronic problem. This brief study aims at utilizing system thinking approach, using a causal loop diagram, to provide a framework for managing changes and complexity in the relocation process and to identify strategic indicators that may occur after relocation. The results are expected to contribute a defined framework for decision making process based on an analysis over the complex and dynamic systems of the relocation program. The results indicate that the municipal government of Surakarta may need to begin to formulate innovative activities through an improved public education and an enhanced street vendors’ empowerment.