Diagnóstico socioeconômico de feiras livres do município de Alcântara-Ma

Abstract

Free markets have been around since ancient times and are one of the oldest forms of marketing. However, in view of the changes that have taken place in modern society, these socioeconomic spaces have also had to adapt, so that they have been able to remain a marketing channel. Thus, the fairs represent, at the same time, a symbol of resistance, but also a current strategic action for rural and urban development. Indeed, this research sought to enter the dynamics of two free fairs in the municipality of Alcântara - MA, in order to make a socioeconomic diagnosis of the marketers who market their products in this space. To this end, the study followed a methodology that made it possible to achieve the proposed objectives, from a bibliographic and field research. Adopting a quantitative and qualitative approach, two complementary instruments were used for data collection: questionnaire and field notebook records. The analysis of quantitative data was supported by elements of Descriptive Statistics, while the qualitative data were worked from the thematic content analysis approach. From this analysis, it was identified that the fairgrounds of the city of Alcântara – MA are mostly: male; with a mean age of 46 years; Has a low level of education and monthly family income is less than or equal to a minimum wage (R $ 998.00). While the merchants / sellers of the Cujupe – MA Terminal are mostly: female; with an average age of 38 years; have a low level of education, but some have been able to complete basic education (have completed high school), and monthly family income is also less than or equal to a minimum wage. The results also showed that the fairs present difficulties in terms of physical structure and organizational capacity, as well as the importance of strengthening these markets in networks and associations, in order to require public policies that benefit them. Therefore, while recognizing the need for further studies that deepen this theme and even consider the perception of consumers who frequent these spaces, this research confirmed the economic importance of fairs as a source of subsistence and income generator, but also beyond that, as important spaces for exchange of values, including cultural ones, that enable new relationships and learning, translating the lifestyles of the people who compose them.