Fleamarket in a German town (English shop)

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This dissertation examines German flea markets from the perspective of economic sociology, using the city of Bielefeld as an empirical case study. The research focuses on the social embeddedness of economic activities and investigates how social relationships, cultural values, and societal institutions influence market behavior. Drawing on empirical observations, surveys, and interviews, the study analyzes the different actors involved in flea markets, including traders, visitors, and organizers, and explores their economic and social motivations. It distinguishes between municipal, community-initiated, and commercial flea markets, as well as different categories of traders and visitors. Further topics include bargaining practices, social networks, leisure activities, the social meaning of money, and consumer culture. The dissertation also examines the international dimensions of flea markets and their relationships with broader political and social structures. The findings demonstrate that flea markets function not only as places of economic exchange but also as socially embedded spaces where economic interests, cultural traditions, and interpersonal relationships interact.