Plate 9.5: Gas Welders Working along Madzindadzi Road
2.3 Empirical Evidence on Validity of Reviewed Theories
This section makes available the pragmatic validity of theories explained in the previous section since real situations are more complex than they are described in theory. Essentially, it outlines objectives, key discoveries and conclusions reached after using theories described in Section 2.2.
2.3.1 Dualistic Conception of an Economy (Despres, 1988)
A comparative study of employment in three Brazilian cities (Manaus, Juiz−de−Fora and Joinville) explored whether formal and informal are better expounded by macro theories related to the dualistic notion of an economy (Despres, 1988). Modernisation, Marxists, Neo−Marxist theories determined the empirical validity of dualistic conception. Study outcomes showed that none of the three cities had evidence of a trade−off association between the formal and informal sectors. Following this finding it was concluded that being employed in the informal sector was a choice, as opposed to being a circumstance caused by a malfunctioning economy (Despres, 1988). Reasons such as self−reliance, independence and flexibility were noted as push factors into the informal trade. Most informal operators prefer to commoditise products of their labour and not to commoditise their labour by being formally employed.
2.3.2 Structural Conception of an Economy (Chakrabarti and Kundu, 2009)
In a paper titled “Formal−informal sectors’ conflict: a structuralist framework for India”, the
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structural formation of the economy was used to appreciate the nature of association between formal and informal trade (Chakrabarti and Kundu, 2009). The duo intended to ascertain whether the two entities complement or strive against each other. To achieve this aim, a structure for the Indian agricultural sector was developed and used to undertake two static comparative analyses. Their outcome indicated that the existence of agricultural expansion as a result of technical support is a pointer both the formal and informal sectors expand, but at different rates with the formal sector on the lead. On the contrary, when there is agricultural expansion feeding from land reform, the informal sector grows at a rate more than proportionate the growth in the formal sector. The duo, therefore, concluded that the expansion strategy matters because it determines which of the two sectors grows at a rate more than proportional to the other. The formal−informal conflict is inevitable since the two sectors depend on the same set of limited resources. As such, the two sectors compete against each other.
2.3.3 Post−Colonial Conception of an Economy (Varley, 2013)
A review paper, titled ‘Post colonializing informality?’ on architectural perspective on urban informality aimed at tracing the direction of the postcolonial critiques (Varley, 2013). The results of the literature survey showed that most accessible studies on urban informality aim to disrupt dualistic conception of informality. Instead of eliminating this dualistic conception, existing literature is exacerbating it. It was therefore concluded that most researchers are not using their personal accounts or reported experiences by residents to report about urban informality. As such, their findings are a little distanced from the truth; they give new life to old conceptions. Some of the images portrayed in recent planning and architectural literature attract interventions that are at odds with the goal of humanising cities. Informality should, therefore, be treated as the identity of developing cities and not compared with Western cities
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as if they (Western cities) are a benchmark of ideal cities.
2.3.4 Spatiality and Clustering in Space (Kuah, 2002)
The study by Kuah (2002) sought to assess the state of knowledge on cluster theory which was first popularised by Porter (1990). It has been propounded that an improved understanding of clusters edifies the function of interaction and networking in micro−enterprising (Kuah, 2002).
Study outcomes revealed that existing knowledge on benefits of clusters can be grouped into three main camps; promotes origination and competitive gain, cluster economies of scale, and linkages. It was concluded that, a cluster is a system of firms within a geographical location weaved together by certain commonalities. This increases the impact and frequency of communications and interactions.
2.3.5 Psychographics and Behavioural Intentions of People (Armitage and Conner, 2001) TPB has received massive support in psychological theoretical literature as a useful tool for foretelling different behaviours and behavioural intents (Van den Putte, 1991; Godin, 1993;
Blue, 1995; Conner and Sparks, 1996; Godin and Kok, 1996; Hausenblas, Carron and Mack, 1997). Following this mass support, a quantitative integration and review of 185 independent studies published till end of 1997 were undertaken (Armitage and Conner, 2001). The analytic review of the TPB aimed at overcoming the methodological weaknesses of previous meta−analyses and focused on several questions in current TPB research. It was revealed that
“27% and 39% of the discrepancy in behaviour and intent, respectively” are accounted for by the TPB (Armitage and Conner, 2001, p. 471). As such, it is a powerful tool for predicting behaviours and behavioural intentions in different context. Emphasis was pointed towards the fact that the projecting supremacy of the TPB is superior in self−reported than observed behaviour. The duo concluded that the biased norm construct is largely a weak forecaster of
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2.3.6 Interaction and Networking of People in Space (Mazongonda, 2016)
The soundness of institutional theory to explain practical realities in informal manufacturing was confirmed in a thesis titled “Dissecting informal manufacturing in Harare: experiences and institutional responses” (Mazongonda, 2016). The main aim of the study was to compile institutional and compositional data shaping informal trade in Harare, Zimbabwe. The study revealed that informal industries are shaped by all three levels of institutions; tertiary, secondary and primary levels. At primary level, it was revealed that new members are incepted into manufacturing by family ties, and at secondary level, manufacturers capitalize on friendship ties to share ideas and tools. And at tertiary level, politics shaped by the governing party at the period of the study, Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU−PF), was largely influential in day−to−day interaction of manufacturers.
Manufacturers noted that ZANU−PF coerces them to behave in certain ways.