The study of informal commerce along the main circulation axis of the city of Recife - Brazil

Abstract

The hardships of incorporating "habitus" to public politics. While accompanying the dynamics of the usage and occupation of the public space that take place formally on areas located along the main circulatory axis, it is possible to perceive the spontaneous multiplication of various forms of comercialization of specific products at traffic lights and sidewalks, when not the street surface it self. Food products (be they industrialised, like, for example: soft drinks, biscuits, candy and such, as well as fruits of the season, or those made in loco, like tapioca, galetos, etc), or even car accessories and flowers, are sold daily. These sociospacial activities reveal, habitus" that have been intensified by the unemployment crisis of the formal market (Barcellar, 2000). What is being revealed during our research is the growing diversification of these products, that in most cases function as a complement to the necessities of the passers-by and drivers that transit on our streets. The existing equipments: hospitals, colleges and office buldings, and medical offices, among others, represent points of attraction to large amounts of user, but do not manage to offer the services that they need, which are therefore supplied, increasingly, through this informal situation. Even with the fenomenon´s visibility, this commerce is not integrated to any public policy, be it of incentive or erradication. It is as if it was from ist origin and in substance part of the street and side walks them selves. The aim of this research is to clarify with information and numerical data this daily evidence, contributing in the way to citizenship of the street.