Can the Informal Economy Be “Managed†?: Comparing Approaches and Effectiveness of Day†Labor Management Policies in the San Diego Metropolitan Area

Day†labor hiring sites are found in more than 120 municipalities across the U.S., there is limited research examining the specific drivers that generate direct interventions into the day†labor market, nor is there any research examining the effectiveness of day†labor management policies. In what follows, I draw on examples from the San Diego Metropolitan Area (SDMA) to address this gap in policy†research. The findings demonstrate the pervasiveness of neoliberal ideology in day†labor management, from policing strategies to social service provision. In each case examined, local governments only took direct action when they believed day†labor activity threatened local commercial activity or when residents' fear of “illegal immigrant†day†laborers made them question the state's ability to control space effectively. In each case, I also evaluate the effectiveness and cost of the management strategy. The results of this analysis clearly demonstrate that attempts to eliminate day†labor activity are costly and expensive while efforts to formalize day†labor cost less and have a higher success rate.