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Street vendors
The Informal Economy
| Unemployment in the DR runs at 20-25%. But there is another large
segment of the population, of people who are employed but whose jobs
do not necessarily bring in steady wages. It is estimated that 40-45%
of the population fall under this category of "under employed" people.
Most of these people work in what is called the "Informal Economy".
An example of workers in the "Informal Economy" are vendors who sell
their product in busy street corners walking among the cars who are
stopped waiting for a green light. |
birthday cards
tangerines
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| It is difficult for me to imagine how anybody can earn a living
washing windshields at a nickel a wash, or selling homemade TV antennas,
or steering wheel covers, or water, or gum. But nonetheless I see
the same people at the same corner, from dawn to dusk, and for six
and even seven days a week. |
cleaning windshields
tv antennas
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| Often, the wages they earn are barely enough to provide food for
themselves. But in many cases, a whole family is working together
in different sectors of the informal economy and together they earn
enough to survive. |
bananas
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| Products I have seen being sold: Cactus, TV Antennas, Loofas, Gold
Fish, Puppies, Shoe Holders, Gum, Sugar Candy, Birthday Cards, Cashews,
Cell Phone Accessories, Avocados, Tangerines, Mangos, Water, Long
Distance Phone Cards, Newspapers, Flowers, Knives, Umbrellas, Tools,
Wind Shield Wipers, Windshield Washers, Sun Visor Protectors, Sun
Glasses, Books, Bananas, Oranges, Baseball Flags, Birds in Cages,
Pencils, Steering Wheel Covers, Strawberries and Mirrors. |
goldfish
gum |
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