Analysis of the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic on informal vendors in Huila

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the socioeconomic and financial impact faced by informal vendors, both stationary and semi-stationary, in the municipalities of Neiva, Garzón, and Pitalito, in the Huila department, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and 2021. The methodology used was a mixed approach, collecting data through online surveys with intentional sampling for vendor selection. The descriptive study analyzed the economic and social issues of this population. Among the results, it is highlighted that the majority of respondents are between 46 and 59 years old, suggesting a greater presence of older adults in informal commerce, possibly due to difficulties in accessing formal employment. The predominant housing tenure is rental, reflecting significant unmet needs and economic vulnerability exacerbated by the significant decrease in income due to the cessation of commercial activities during the pandemic. In the conclusions, it is evident that the female gender predominated in the development of the project, showing greater incidence in the results. Additionally, a high decrease in income levels, low participation in public policy, and a high level of indebtedness were observed. The population shows a low educational level, with few individuals completing secondary education, thus highlighting the socioeconomic precariousness of informal vendors in this context.