Incidencia del trabajo informal en el uso de espacios públicos del mercado 9 de Octubre de la Ciudad de Cuenca en el año 2022

Abstract

This research resulted from the concern about the incidence of informal commerce in the use of public space as a dynamizer of social and economic relations. Informal commerce is an alternative to obtain sources of income that contribute to the sustainability of families in the absence of job opportunities. Based on this premise, the objective is to analyze the incidence of informal commerce in the use of public spaces in the 9 de Octubre Market in the city of Cuenca in the year 2022. The methodological approach implemented for the research is qualitative, because it is intended to deepen the incidence of informal trade with respect to land occupation and working conditions of those who perform it. For this purpose, a phenomenological design is used in order to explore, describe and understand the experiences of informal vendors. Among the main results, the feminization of informal commerce was evidenced, since it is mostly women who carry out this activity as an alternative to the lack of job opportunities. However, the conditions in which they work are marked by precariousness and insecurity, a situation that limits the real exercise of their rights. Regarding the influence of informal commerce on the use of public space, this has a significant impact on its social dimension. The study concludes by showing that informal traders in the areas surrounding Mercado 9 de Octubre are exposed to unfavorable conditions in terms of income instability and exposure to social risks (violence and discrimination).