Tarihi bir çarşıda süreklilik, değişim ve kayıt dışılık: 2020'lerde Kapalıçarşı

This thesis focuses on informal economic activities and their underlying dynamics through the experiences of economic actors in the Grand Bazaar. It examines the various forms of informal income generation in this traditional bazaar, the processes by which transitions from informal to formal structures occur, and the perspectives of numerous actors from different occupational groups regarding informality. The thesis aims to elucidate the complex structure of economic activities in the Grand Bazaar by first defining, and then analyzing them - drawing particularly on the literature surrounding the informal economy and its conceptual frameworks. The fieldwork is based on 21 in-depth interviews conducted between 2024 and 2025. Ultimately, the thesis seeks to explore the informal labor force as it diversifies within the unique economic and cultural context of the Grand Bazaar, focusing on the bazaar's economic actors, and thereby contributing to the enrichment of academic literature in this field.