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'The Dark Side of Market Modernization' by Emil van Eck

 Tiago N.

Plein ’40-’45 bustles with activity offering a bevy of goods and a meeting place for local residents. Credit: Tiago N.

In early March this year, Emil van Eck, a PhD student at Radboud University and member of our Dutch team, wrote an article for our external collaborator, Market Cities. Market Cities Program aims at strengthening the regional systems behind the market stalls by connecting and supporting a diverse set of stakeholders through research, specialized training, and a network of peers. In his article, Emil takes a closer look at Amsterdam's Plein ’40-’45 market where he has been conducting ethnographic research for the past three years. The numerous interviews with traders, market managers and policy-makers show that on the basis of a new policy program, the municipality of Amsterdam plans to transform the market into an upscale Saturday-only market to attract new and more affluent customers. This might have a gentrifying effect on the market, threatening to displace its current users and diminish the social values that the market currently represents for both its visitors and traders. If you wish to read more about the possible negative effects of market upscaling, you can browse the publication on Market Cities online and check Emil's other writings.