Black Market Capital: Urban Politics and the Shadow Economy in Mexico City (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780520293670)

In this extraordinary new book, Andrew Konove traces the history of illicit commerce in Mexico City from the seventeenth century to the twentieth, showing how it became central to the economic and political life of the city. The story centers on the untold history of the Baratillo, the city's infamous thieves' market. Originating in the colonial-era Plaza Mayor, the Baratillo moved to the neighborhood of Tepito in the early twentieth century, where it grew into one of the world's largest emporiums for black-market goods. Konove uncovers the far-reaching ties between vendors in the Baratillo and political and mercantile elites in Mexico City, revealing the surprising clout of vendors who trafficked in the shadow economy and the diverse individuals who benefited from their trade.

Author: Andrew Konove
ISBN-10: 0520293673
ISBN-13: 9780520293670
Publisher: University of California Press
Language: English
Published: 05/25/2018
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 01/01/2019