It's an honest hustle

As summer wanes we are reminded that many people have had their busiest time for earning income. Many people work two jobs, one paid and in the wage economy, but another where they work for themselves and they work hard in small scale street businesses catering to tourists and vacationers, or at periodic public markets selling items they create themselves or which they purchase at auction or by other means.

These self-employed entrepreneurs are often seasonal, as illustrated by this NYT story about people selling refreshments on the beach.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/nyregion/01hustle.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

Notice the hard work and longevity involved. Certainly not all merchants are so long-lived. It is the case the these jobs are demanding and not always welcome. But some merchants only vend to tide them through a tough time or to fulfill a particular economic desire or need.

In these tough economic times we should expect even more of this honest hustle, in the face of often dishonest business dealings which leave so many with dire economic problems.