攤販，已經成為台灣居民日常生活的一部份，也是台灣人文地景的重要特色。而 台灣既有的攤販研究是將攤販視為「社會問題」或「社會安全瓣」(social security valve)的結構面向切入，來探討攤販現象。從社會問題面向切入的研究與規劃報告，多半預 設了「攤販是都市之瘤」的立場，以社會失序的角度來分析攤販的成因，以求消弭與解決攤 販的問題；從社會安全瓣的面向切入來探討攤販者，則偏重討論國家政策與攤販間的關係， 攤販的存在被目的論地視為國家有意放縱的結果，用以緩衝社會衝突，替代國家社會救濟的 責任。 　　本文試圖從不同歷史階段的攤販政策以及攤販的分化過程，來探討攤販與台灣整體經濟 活動間的關連。現階段所存在不同類型的攤販，顯示目前攤販與台灣整體社經結構的關係已 經改變。攤販不再只是單純的「邊陲人口」或「產業後備用」，八○年代以後持續增加的攤 販自僱人口，其實是一種勞動者脫離勞動體制而自行創業的形式。一方面，專業攤販變成目 前低教育、中老年以及已婚婦女，用以獲取經營自主與增加所得的一種就業、轉業管道；另 一方面，兼業的攤販工作，除了是勞動者增加收入的來源外，也是台灣各式製造業的小工廠 老板用來清銷存貨、積累資金的一種維持經營的方式。所以，攤販的存在不僅是台灣的社會 安全網絡，也同時是社會流動的管道。

　　　　　This paper attempts to establish a historical perspective of state policy and to interpret "the vendor phenomena" by differentiating vendors in Taiwan. The vendor has become not only part of everyday life but is also an important cultural landscape of Taiwan. However, the vendor was either regareded as "social problem" or "social security valve" in past research. The presupposition of the first planning approach was that "the Vendor is a city tumor." It explained causes of the vendor and looked for solutions. The second approach focused on the relationship of the vendor and the state. The vendor was purposely tolerated by the state to reduce social conflict and its responsibility. This paper analyzes form two dimensions; state policy and vendor formation in the process of Taiwan's socioeconomic development. And, built upon this context, relationship of the vendor and economic system are discussed. The diversity of vendors implies that they are not "marginal population" or "reserve army". In fact, self-employed and full-time vendors are specific occupations by which the elderly, the low-educated or the married women can earn decent money and gain management experiences. Part-time vendors, gain complemental income through prolonging their working hours. It's also a means used by small producers to sell out their over-produced products. Thus, by distinguishing different types of vendors, we find that the vendor is a mode of flexible production and exchange and plays a role for both socicl security and social mobility.