TRADERS OF THE CENTRAL BAZAAR IN ASTANA: A PERSPECTIVE ON MOTIVES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS

Abstract

This MA thesis focuses on the Central Bazaar traders in Astana that were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling. The goal of the research is to investigate the reasons for becoming a trader, identifying factors that lead to the decision to become a trader, and the role of social networks in traders’ lives. In this paper I employ the bottom-up approach to research informal markets as opposed to macro perspective and thus I focus life stories of traders. The research fills the gap in the literature of informal markets by addressing the relationship between one’s motives and social networks in trade.