Modal Sosial Pedagang Sayur Untuk Memperoleh Bahan Dagangan
Studi di Pasar Pulau Rakyat Pekan Kecamatan Pulau Rakyat Kabupaten Asahan Provinsi Sumatera Utara
Abstract
This study aims to identify and analyze the social capital of vegetable traders in obtaining merchandise supplies at Pulau Rakyat Pekan Market, Pulau Rakyat District, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra Province. The focus of this study is on trust, social networks, and social norms owned by vegetable traders in obtaining merchandise supplies from agents and suppliers. This research employs James Coleman's Social Capital Theory, which explains that social relationships can serve as resources utilized by individuals to achieve specific goals. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The informants consisted of eight vegetable traders who obtained merchandise supplies through agents and suppliers without purchasing directly from production centers. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Data analysis was conducted using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, which includes data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that social capital plays an important role in obtaining merchandise supplies. Trust is the most dominant element of social capital, as reflected in cooperative relationships that enable traders to obtain goods through flexible payment systems, such as post-sale payments and trade credit arrangements. Social networks help traders gain access to information regarding product availability, prices, product quality, and alternative suppliers when stock shortages occur. Meanwhile, social norms in the form of payment commitments, honesty in transactions, and maintaining good relationships with suppliers serve as the foundation for sustaining cooperative relationships. The study concludes that trust, social networks, and social norms are interconnected in forming social capital, which assists traders in obtaining merchandise supplies and sustaining their vegetable trading businesses at Pulau Rakyat Pekan Market.
