LA INFORMALIDAD COMO PROCESO: UN ANÁLISIS DEL DESARROLLO URBANO DE CALETA OLIVIA, SANTA CRUZ, ARGENTINA

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the informality/formality dichotomy through the historical reconstruction of the urban development of the city of Caleta Olivia in the province of Santa Cruz. By analyzing the case of Caleta Olivia, we will gain insight into informality as a sociopolitical process. This will be accomplished through the reconstruction of the city’s development over three phases: before the oil industry, during the implementation of the oil industry in the region, and in the 2000s, with a focus on the impact of housing policies until 2019. This article shows that the informal production of urban land is a process driven by the state and not necessarily in conflict with it. Finally, this case study sheds light on urban experiences outside of the major cities, that have typically been the focus of academic research on informal urban land production.