Joella Bitter, University of Notre Dame
“Is the Informal Economy a Problem of Exclusion?: An Ethnographic Study of Latin America”
Abstract: This paper will consider the role of the informal economy in Latin America in the pursuit of human development. An examination of various ethnographic presentations of economy over the course of this history, culminating with research in Santiago, Chile, will expand on different approaches of understanding human behavior. Ultimately, the researcher will consider the relationship between the formal and the informal in pursuit of this question is the informal economy a problem of exclusion? Informal economies are usually the means through which distressed peoples try to regain a sense of control and balance in their lives. This research aims to investigate the significance of the informal economy to culture and society. Specifically, how does the informal economy affect subsistence choices, inclusion and exclusion in socio-economic processes, and efforts toward development and stabilization?
Bio: Joella came to Notre Dame from Texas, born and raised in the small town of Edna with 12 older siblings. She just returned from an amazing semester studying abroad in Santiago, Chile, and now loves to eaves-drop on unsuspecting Spanish-speakers. Joella is passionate about her studies in anthropology and economics and gets excited when discussing themes related to poverty & development, peace & conflict, or post-modern thought. Her sophomore year, she and three of the neatest people she knows founded the ND-8 student group. Running, journaling, and laughing with friends are as necessary to life for Joella as breathing air and drinking water. She enjoys spending Friday mornings at the Catholic Worker drop-in center and Friday afternoons working as a community-based research assistant at the CSC. She has participated in the Appalachia Seminar in Virginia, the Children & Poverty Seminar in NYC, and the Poverty & Development Seminar in Santiago, Chile. She is always down for a good conversation, a cup of coffee, dancing, a good book recommendation, a trip to the Grotto, taking photos, or anything that involves being outdoors.
