Linking production, distribution and consumption: Self-help builders and the building materials industry in urban Colombia

Although building materials are one of the most important components of housing, there have been few attempts to link the nature of the building materials industry to the construction of housing. This paper analyses the three stages of production, distribution and consumption of building materials in Colombia, focusing in particular on the links between capitalists and petty capitalists operating within each stage. The relationships between capitalists and petty capitalists are found to be complex, but there is a general tendency for the petty capitalists to survive. It is shown how an examination of the links between producers, distributors and consumers of building materials enhances both our understanding of the functioning of the industry and the actions of individual builders.