Urban marketplaces and mobile vendors: The flea market in the metropolitan economy. A case study of two flea markets: Aqueduct and Roosevelt Raceway flea markets.
Item
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Title
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Urban marketplaces and mobile vendors: The flea market in the metropolitan economy. A case study of two flea markets: Aqueduct and Roosevelt Raceway flea markets.
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Identifier
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AAI3245031
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identifier
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3245031
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Creator
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Abrams, Les.
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Contributor
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Adviser: William Kornblum
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Date
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2007
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Sociology, Social Structure and Development | Economics, Theory | Geography
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Abstract
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Two flea markets were researched form an interactionist perspective. Two research goals provided the central themes in this dissertation: (1) an ethnographic study of two hugely successful flea markets---Aqueduct Racetrack Flea Market (in Queens) and Roosevelt Racetrack Flea Market (in Suburban Long Island)---both in the New York area (2) an interactionist perspective---economic actors participating in a variety of exchanges with a socio-cultural perspective. Rather than economic activity being classified as a separate entity from society as in the neo-classical economic theoretical framework, a dramaturgical, approach actually demonstrates that normative behavior in terms of cooperation, inclusion and fair play in business transactions have proven to be advantageous. An amalgamation of feelings of excitement in being part of the flea market action scene, combined with a multitude of fashions and cultural impact, form the basis of some of the ingredients adding to the spectacle that has made flea markets a huge success. Other variables describing the relatedness of economics and society were politics, local traditions, capital formation and sociability. In short, the regulations, which control economic life, cannot be explained purely in economic terms.;Three groups were researched: manufacturers/suppliers, vendors, and shoppers. Each was described in detail as my family and I were vendors in these markets for more than six years. Furthermore, the cash underground economy and its relationship to the flea markets and economic participants were explored. Though there were no formal institutional laws in the cash underground economy, embeddedness of cultural variables such as trust, and the presentation of self, the formation of identity, ego gratification and power relations were described from an "insider's" vantage point.;Assuming that flea market business activity could be reduced to a few a priori assumptions is simply unrealistic. Hopefully, this study will add to the understanding of the workings and success of flea markets, as well as to the development of economic sociology, and as an impetus to a paradigm shift away from neo-classical economic thinking.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
