Consider This: Hawker Economy (Part 2) — Small Traders, Big Impact

Hawkers have long been an essential part of Malaysia’s street food culture and informal economy. But they’re facing mounting challenges—from rising costs, to a lack of successors. A new discussion paper by Khazanah Research Institute examines the historical evolution of these small-scale traders, and the policy gaps that leave them vulnerable. How can Malaysia better support its hawker economy? What can we learn from Singapore’s policy efforts and government support that led to hawker culture being officially recognised on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Professor Lily Kong, President of Singapore Management University and author of ‘Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food’.