Rhythm analysis of the informal urban economy in the consumption of geographical space

Abstract

The informal economy encompasses economic activities that operate outside formal institutional frameworks and are shaped by temporal, spatial, and activity-specific factors, particularly in urban contexts. This study investigates the spatiotemporal rhythms of informal economic actors in Zanjan (Iran) addressing the central research question: How is the temporal and spatial organization of the informal urban economy structured, and how does space consumption relate to activity type? Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach grounded in rhythmanalysis, data were collected through continuous observation and semi-structured interviews and analyzed through descriptive and interpretive methods. Findings indicate that informal activities are spatially clustered across central, intermediate, and peripheral urban zones according to pedestrian flows, market density, accessibility, and product type, while temporal rhythms vary daily, weekly, and seasonally under the influence of environmental conditions and regulatory enforcement. The activity content primarily involves the provision of subsistence-oriented goods of medium to low quality. The study highlights that rhythmanalysis provides a robust framework for understanding the dynamic spatial and temporal patterns of informal economies, offering practical insights for data-informed urban planning and policy-making.