Competition and cooperation among working women in the context of structural adjustment: The case of street vendors in La Paz-El Alto, Bolivia

Victor Agadjanian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

This case study of women street vendors in La Paz-El Alto, Bolivia, examines the dynamics of competition and cooperation among this group of poor working women in the context of economic structural adjustment and political pluralization. It is argued that the economic and political reforms not only increase street vendors 'insecurities, but may also undennine the potential for their broad-based solidarity and collective actions. Extreme competition in the overcrowded street commerce, diminishing returns, and disillusionment with traditional forms of workers' organization hinder cooperation among street vendors and fragment the social body of the street marketplace, often by further reinforcing its gender, class, ethnoracial, and religious fault lines.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)259-285
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Developing Societies
Volume18
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Development

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