Authors

Discussion

Bazaars in Eastern Europe and their functioning have been the subject of numerous studies in recent decades. They have been recognised as a system that not only fulfils its economic purpose, but also continuously adapts its strategies and is able to respond to cultural and spiritual needs, as well as offering opportunities for socialisation and networking (Polese). The Piața Centrală (PC) is a bazaar in the centre of Chișinău that has existed for around 200 years and has undergone a series of transformations. We start from the assumption that one of the most recent dynamics that has influenced trade on the PC is Moldova's rapprochement with the European Union (EU). Based on an actor-centred perspective, we examine whether and how the PC is adapting to Moldova's participation in the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) under the Association Agreement with the EU since 2014. We focus on two dimensions of economic integration in the context of the DCFTA - trade liberalisation and regulatory alignment. Specifically, we ask, first, how the decline in tariffs and duties affects the functioning of the PC, e.g. by increasing imports from the EU. Second, we analyse the extent to which new regulations have been introduced for the PC to meet Moldova's obligations under the DCFTA (or to be more competitive, e.g. vis-à-vis supermarkets). We focus our analysis on adaptation strategies related to the sale of agricultural products on the PC - a sector that is of great importance to the PC, while at the same time facing increasing competition from EU imports and the pressure to adapt in the context of costly EU food safety regulations. By analysing the strategies of different actors linked to the market, we aim to understand to what extent the PC, with its economic but also social, cultural and symbolic function represents a past economic order or is an adaptive structure as such.