| The central question this dissertation addresses is: What are the functions of street vendor organizations? The study of street vending in Mexico City shows that vendor organizations perform two central functions: (1) organizations as managers of social assets and, (2) organizations as brokers. The dissertation also shows that social capital, family, and friends play an important role among street vendors to gain access to stalls in informal markets.;The dissertation identifies four models to understand the organization of informal markets and the way urban spaces are distributed among street vendors. The findings raise questions regarding the way policies to formalize street vending are being implemented. Governments are attempting to control and regulate street vendors without taking into account their organizations.;A participatory model is proposed as an alternative to future policy making decisions. In this policy model, government and social institutions like street vendor organizations share responsibilities for the regulation and functioning of informal markets. Finally, the research shows evidence that social institutions could be a cost-effective solution for governments in developing countries with limited financial and human resources. |
