Abstract
In this paper, I ask how migrant insertion into the local economy, in particular in the informal economy, has led to contestation over public space in Santa Cruz. Related to this issue, the paper asks what sorts of collective actions are used to defend rights to the use of urban public space, and what are the key points of contention. In my analysis, I look at theoretical connections between the informal economy and urban space, recent changes in the Santa Cruz local economy ‒including accelerated migration and the burgeoning informal economy‒ and conflicts over uses of public urban space.
Highlights
This paper explores the intersections between migration, the informal economy and conflicts over uses of public space in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, as a window into the dynamics of highland migrant integration and exclusion in this city, and the forces shaping them
This paper has highlighted some of the ways in which migration flows and increasing economic informality have a direct bearing on patterns of urbanization and changes in the urban landscape of Santa Cruz, Bolivia
While the local economy has shown a rise of informality across economic activities, this study has concentrated on informal commerce as a key area due to its visibility in the public sphere
Summary
This paper explores the intersections between migration, the informal economy and conflicts over uses of public space in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, as a window into the dynamics of highland migrant integration and exclusion in this city, and the forces shaping them. I chose market and street vending because it is a highly visible occupation and one that has grown considerably with the arrival of Andean migrants to Santa Cruz It features strong forms of collective organization, and it has become the target of municipal policies aimed at regulating informal activities in public spaces more broadly. My analysis contributes to recent discussions on the spatial dimensions of social exclusion and struggles over the access to and meanings surrounding urban space in local contexts (Kudva, Madanipour) It raises larger questions regarding processes of informalization and reformalization, and the spatial implications and political challenges of regulating informal economic activities. It sheds light on the effects of planning policies on the lives of recent migrants and informal workers, on potential efforts to support workers who are detached from formal structures, and on fostering social cohesion at the local level
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