Doctoral Dissertation Research in Geography and Regional Science

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Much of the economic activity in cities located in developing nations is conducted by persons who operate informally. These people work independently or in small organizations in ways that circumvent formal government control or supervision. The share of urban populations engaged in these types of activities has grown rapidly in recent decades, leading scholars to debate whether the informal economic sector functions as a separate unit or whether it performs within a broader framework within which formal economic establishments still maintain primary power. This doctoral dissertation project will examine the form and function of informal economic activities in Quito, Ecuador, in order to describe the structure and diversity of activities and to analyze how persons engaged in informal activities interact with each other and with other individuals and institutions. Labor-force data in Ecuador's three largest cities will be analyzed to compare formal-informal economic patterns, and interviews with persons engaged in informal activities will be conducted to examine links among persons in the informal sector, the formal sector, and the government. Attention also will be given to identifying how working relations affect the economic mobility of persons engaged in informal activities. This project will provide valuable data and analyses of the operations of persons engaged in informal economic activities. Although focusing on an Ecuadorian case study, the insights from this project will be of great use to persons conducting related work elsewhere. This project also will provide an excellent opportunity for a promising young scholar to continue to develop independent research skills.