Dynamics of Subjective Well-Being and Economic Resilience Among Pandan Craftsmen
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59944/amorti.v5i2.2136Keywords:
Economic Resilience; Informal Micro-Enterprises; Pandan Handicrafts; Rural Empowerment; Subjective Well-BeingAbstract
While existing scholarship on rural craft micro-enterprises predominantly focuses on objective economic outcomes, the socio-psychological mechanisms driving artisan perseverance remain underexplored. This study examines the dynamic interplay between Subjective Well-Being (SWB) and Economic Resilience within the Pandan Radesta handicraft collective in Kelurahan Rano, Tanjab Timur Regency, Jambi. Utilizing a qualitative research design rooted in a transcendental phenomenological framework, empirical data were gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 12 active weavers, enterprise coordinators, and local officials, complemented by field observations and thematic analysis. The findings reveal that pandan craft manufacturing functions as a dual engine for rural livelihoods: providing a vital financial cushion (contributing 30–35% to household budgets) while simultaneously fostering psycho-social empowerment, domestic decision-making agency, and community solidarity among rural women. Crucially, high SWB acts as an emotional buffer that stabilizes labor participation and prevents enterprise abandonment during market fluctuations. However, long-term economic resilience remains structurally constrained by manual production techniques, limited capital, restricted local market exposure, and underdeveloped digital e-commerce adoption. To overcome these bottlenecks, the collective deploys adaptation strategies centered on product diversification and informal mutual aid (gotong royong). This research concludes that subjective well-being and economic resilience are mutually reinforcing constructs, advocating for a paradigm shift in rural development policies toward human-centered capacity building, digital literacy, and multi-stakeholder Triple Helix synergies
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