New Forms of Emergent Self-Employment in the Global South: Trends and Patterns

This study explores three prominent forms of emergent self-employment in the Global South, highlighting their trends and patterns. The digital gig economy, facilitated by increased technology penetration and platform proliferation, offers flexible job opportunities predominantly in urban areas, despite ongoing regulatory challenges. Informal street vending, driven by economic necessity and cultural integration, provides mobility and flexibility but faces regulatory and health concerns. Home-based enterprises, characterized by low startup costs and local market focus, often attract women entrepreneurs balancing work and household responsibilities. Common across these forms are the informality of operations, the role of self-employment as an economic safety net, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the need for support in training and access to finance. These patterns reflect the adaptability and resilience of individuals in the Global South as they navigate economic challenges to secure livelihoods. This study integrates the Technology Adoption Theory which helps explain how the adoption of digital platforms for gig work spreads across populations, driven by factors such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, and socio-economic incentives; and Economic Resilience Theory which focuses on how individuals and communities adapt to economic shocks and stresses through self-employment, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity. This theoretical framework provides a comprehensive lens to analyse the emergence, sustainability, and implications of self-employment forms in the Global South, offering insights into policy interventions and support mechanisms needed to enhance livelihoods and economic resilience. This qualitative study will utilize archival records to analyse trends in self-employment from a Global South perspective and analysed using a multidimensional analysis framework.