THE BARRIOS ' MERCADOS: The Creation and Transformation of Commercial Space in Mexican American Communities

As shown by economic and demographic data, standard practice in local economic development (or redevelopment) has failed to spur significant economic development for the Mexican American community in National City, California. "The Development Game " in National City practices standard development strategies often described as partnerships between public and private sectors, because they link targeted public expenditures for private development projects, benefiting only a narrow set of property owners, developers and entrepreneurs, particularly in the short-run. The two case studies presented suggest that Mercados in Mexican American communities may generate their own economy and culture and further serve as a model for community development. The National City Swapmeet exemplifies the indigenous economic culture that exist within the Mexican American community and provides community empowerment. In addition, the Swapmeet case study indicates how "The Development Game " players of National City see any indigenous economic activity in a place they already defined as a barrio as further evidence of blight and set out to eradicate those places. The second the Mercado del Barrio, provides a model comprehensiv