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Partovi Asl M, Golabi F, Abbaszadeh M. (2026). The Phenomenological Study of Traditional Market Traders' Experiences of Helping in the Market Space: Causes and Consequences. refahj. 25(99), : 9 doi:10.32598/refahj.25.99.4171.2
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-4456-en.html
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-4456-en.html
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
Traditional markets represent pivotal socio-economic institutions where complex interactions among economic actors unfold. Beyond competitive dynamics, these spaces foster distinctive patterns of cooperation and mutual assistance, which are critical to sustaining the market’s economic vitality and social cohesion. Mutual aid within the marketplace addresses not only the livelihood needs of traders but also reinforces social bonds and collective capital. However, globalization, neoliberal economic shifts, and the rise of modern competitive markets increasingly challenge these traditional support systems (Shahivandi et al., 2016). Studies indicate that mutual assistance functions as an informal support network, mitigating occupational stress and enhancing resilience during economic crises, a key factor in the robustness of traditional markets (Modab et al., 2020). These practices cultivate intimate, familial relationships among traders, which bolster trust and facilitate business collaboration. Such dense social interactions are recognized as foundational to community development (Shahivandi et al., 2016). While the phenomenon has been examined from various angles in Iran, this study addresses a central qualitative gap: What are the lived experiences of traditional market traders regarding mutual assistance in the marketplace?
Method
This qualitative study employs a descriptive phenomenological approach, drawing on the interpretive frameworks of Max van Manen and Emil Smith to capture and describe participants’ lived experiences and subjective meanings of helping behavior. The research population consisted of individuals with direct experience in mutual aid within traditional markets, including veteran merchants and members of charitable guild funds. Using purposive and snowball sampling, 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed via Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Credibility was ensured through member checking, reliability was assessed via inter-coder agreement, and the findings were reviewed and refined by expert academics.
Findings
Analysis of participants’ narratives reveals that mutual assistance in traditional markets arises from the dynamic interplay of several key social factors. Traders’ experiences highlight how social capital (built on trust, honesty, and shared religious practice) forms the relational bedrock of the bazaar. This capital is cultivated through socialization, a lifelong process whereby norms of cooperation are learned and reproduced. Situational collaboration emerges in response to immediate needs such as financial distress or family events, functioning as an adaptive mechanism during crises. These interactions are enabled by transparent communication networks that allow for swift information exchange and coordination. Underpinning these dynamics is a non-class-based lifestyle, which promotes social equality, minimizes hierarchical barriers, and fosters a collective identity oriented toward solidarity and mutual support.
Discussion
The results demonstrate that cooperation in traditional markets is a multidimensional outcome shaped by social, cultural, and economic forces. Social capital rooted in trust and religious participation, reinforced through early and continuous socialization, establishes a foundation for deep interpersonal ties. Situational pressures activate ad-hoc collaborative responses, while robust communication networks facilitate coordination and preempt crises. Importantly, the egalitarian ethos of the bazaar, where class distinctions are muted, nurtures an environment conducive to solidarity, aligning with theories of social trust (e.g., Fukuyama) that link equality to enhanced cooperation.
Theoretically, these findings resonate with sociological perspectives that view economic behavior as embedded in cultural and social systems. Mutual aid in the bazaar transcends mere transaction; it is sustained by shared values, relational networks, and collective identity. This study suggests that despite contemporary economic pressures, traditional markets retain resilience through these ingrained social structures. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms can inform policies aimed at fostering cooperative practices and social solidarity in other economic and community contexts.
Ethical considerations
Authors’ Contributions
All authors have made substantial contributions to this study.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Introduction
Traditional markets represent pivotal socio-economic institutions where complex interactions among economic actors unfold. Beyond competitive dynamics, these spaces foster distinctive patterns of cooperation and mutual assistance, which are critical to sustaining the market’s economic vitality and social cohesion. Mutual aid within the marketplace addresses not only the livelihood needs of traders but also reinforces social bonds and collective capital. However, globalization, neoliberal economic shifts, and the rise of modern competitive markets increasingly challenge these traditional support systems (Shahivandi et al., 2016). Studies indicate that mutual assistance functions as an informal support network, mitigating occupational stress and enhancing resilience during economic crises, a key factor in the robustness of traditional markets (Modab et al., 2020). These practices cultivate intimate, familial relationships among traders, which bolster trust and facilitate business collaboration. Such dense social interactions are recognized as foundational to community development (Shahivandi et al., 2016). While the phenomenon has been examined from various angles in Iran, this study addresses a central qualitative gap: What are the lived experiences of traditional market traders regarding mutual assistance in the marketplace?
Method
This qualitative study employs a descriptive phenomenological approach, drawing on the interpretive frameworks of Max van Manen and Emil Smith to capture and describe participants’ lived experiences and subjective meanings of helping behavior. The research population consisted of individuals with direct experience in mutual aid within traditional markets, including veteran merchants and members of charitable guild funds. Using purposive and snowball sampling, 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed via Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Credibility was ensured through member checking, reliability was assessed via inter-coder agreement, and the findings were reviewed and refined by expert academics.
Findings
Analysis of participants’ narratives reveals that mutual assistance in traditional markets arises from the dynamic interplay of several key social factors. Traders’ experiences highlight how social capital (built on trust, honesty, and shared religious practice) forms the relational bedrock of the bazaar. This capital is cultivated through socialization, a lifelong process whereby norms of cooperation are learned and reproduced. Situational collaboration emerges in response to immediate needs such as financial distress or family events, functioning as an adaptive mechanism during crises. These interactions are enabled by transparent communication networks that allow for swift information exchange and coordination. Underpinning these dynamics is a non-class-based lifestyle, which promotes social equality, minimizes hierarchical barriers, and fosters a collective identity oriented toward solidarity and mutual support.
Discussion
The results demonstrate that cooperation in traditional markets is a multidimensional outcome shaped by social, cultural, and economic forces. Social capital rooted in trust and religious participation, reinforced through early and continuous socialization, establishes a foundation for deep interpersonal ties. Situational pressures activate ad-hoc collaborative responses, while robust communication networks facilitate coordination and preempt crises. Importantly, the egalitarian ethos of the bazaar, where class distinctions are muted, nurtures an environment conducive to solidarity, aligning with theories of social trust (e.g., Fukuyama) that link equality to enhanced cooperation.
Theoretically, these findings resonate with sociological perspectives that view economic behavior as embedded in cultural and social systems. Mutual aid in the bazaar transcends mere transaction; it is sustained by shared values, relational networks, and collective identity. This study suggests that despite contemporary economic pressures, traditional markets retain resilience through these ingrained social structures. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms can inform policies aimed at fostering cooperative practices and social solidarity in other economic and community contexts.
Ethical considerations
Authors’ Contributions
All authors have made substantial contributions to this study.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Type of Study: orginal |
Received: 2025/04/16 | Accepted: 2025/11/9 | Published: 2026/01/27
Received: 2025/04/16 | Accepted: 2025/11/9 | Published: 2026/01/27
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