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ABSTRACT
The content of this work, discourse about the spacial configuration in the
production of the main free markets in Maiquinique, Macarani, Itarantim, Itororó e
Itapetinga, all these places are part of the southeast region of Bahia. The work was
developed from the understanding that, free markets are part of a manifestation of
the economic urban inferior track level in underdeveloping countries of the third
World. The most relevant theories used to understand free markets came from
Professor Milton Santos. Analyses were made through information brought by
people, who sell and consume products from these free markets, on the sight of the
theory above showed. After draw the lines of the research, and have all the piece
information recieved interpreted, it was realized that, during the free markets is
possible verify the characteristics of the inferior track level. In while, these
characteristics may start from the basic relation between consumers and sellers, Until
the organization of the selling place. Besides, the underst
anding of free markets, as a
proper part of the inferior track level of towns showed above, turned other questions
clear to see. The plethora part of sellers and consumers, don’t have a good financial
condition, they go to free markets, not just for commercial relation, but also, for
enjoyment and for meet other people. Because of this, free markets weren’t just
understood like an economic phenomenon, but , like a cultural one as well. It was
also realized that, in the five towns researched, free markets are attended by people
with different social level. However, the most consumers interviewed, affirmatively
said that, they don’t have any income or earn less than one minimum wage in a
month. Itapetinga is the town with the biggest urban population in its total, and is also
there where live the most part of the people who earn the best salaries, if compared
to incomes of the other researched towns. Its free market is attended by the
population with less consume power, if it’s compared to the other related towns. It
means that, the bigger is the population and their incomes, and if the rise of their
incomes is followed by the importance of the city related to the surrounded ones,
meanwhile that, free market probably will be attended by a population with less
in
come power. Therefore, in towns where these characteristics don’t occur, free
markets are attended by people with distinct social levels. The current movement of
the free markets and their characteristics, have as a result the production of a
spacial configuration with distinct elements in each free market place. Nevertheless,
there are differences among them, if observed other elements, turning them into light
of their particularities. Thereby, two free markets were chosen to be understood from
the beginning of the organization in the place of selling. The smallest one, in
Maiquininque town, and the biggest one, from Itapetinga town. The analyses of the
free markets were made based on theories presented above before, and it
corroborates to the importance of free markets for the urban and farmy population in
each town. Their configuration, production and cultural aspects, are result of how the
community where free markets are in, use the space and the historical values built by
the population through years.
Key words: spacial configuration; free markets; inferior track level