"BRICOLE" AND ECONOMIC CIRCUITS: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE APPROACHES OF FLORENCE WEBER AND VIVIANA ZELIZER TO THE STUDY OF INFORMALITY

Abstract

This work addresses the analytical distinction between Florence Weber and Zelizer, in relation to social economy and economic circuits, with a view to its application in the study of informality. The complexity of this exercise justifies the dedication to study and reflection, since it contributes to the advancement of knowledge about informal work, stimulates academic debate around the topic, and promotes the development of theoretical and methodological training processes—especially because the authors focus on the social and cultural aspects of means of payment. To this end, Florence Weber's interpretation of "bricole" and Zelizer's interpretation of relational work are adopted. In this bibliographic analysis, we sought to understand which of the two interpretations can be more adequately used in the informal labor market, an environment that fosters a considerable development of solidarity relations. It is argued that, although Weber's concept of "bricole" illuminates non-monetary exchanges and solidarity, it is Zelizer's notion of "economic circuit" that offers greater analytical power to explain informality, precisely because it incorporates the multiple forms of money and relational labor in commercial transactions. It is concluded that the panorama is broad, but the economic circuit is realized more fully and systematically in informality. By explicitly confronting the two approaches, the article contributes to filling a gap in studies on informality: the lack of clear criteria for choosing between different theoretical frameworks available in economic sociology, offering support for future empirical research and for the conceptual refinement of the field.