Research finds Fairtrade fails the poorest workers in Ethiopia and Uganda

soas ^ | 24 May 2014 | soas

[Berlin_Freeper]

Fairtrade certified coffee, tea and flowers do not improve lives of the very poorest rural people in Ethiopia and Uganda, according to a four-year research project conducted by leading development economists at SOAS, University of London. The project studied rural labour markets in areas producing crops for export, under different institutional conditions that included, in some research sites, Fairtrade certification.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Britain leads the world on Fairtrade, with over 4,500 certified products from over 340 companies and over 10,000 local Fairtrade campaigns in towns, schools, colleges, workplaces and faith groups. Estimated retail sales of Fairtrade products in 2013 reached £1.78 billion, a 14 per cent increase on sales of £1.53 billion in 2012.

[Berlin_Freeper]

The movement is especially popular in the UK where there are 500 Fairtrade Towns, 118 Fairtrade universities, over 6,000 Fairtrade churches, and over 4,000 UK schools registered in the Fairtrade Schools Scheme.[7] In 2011, over 1.2 million farmers and workers in more than 60 countries are engaged in Fair Trade, and €65 million in Fairtrade premium was paid. According to Fairtrade International, nearly six out of ten consumers have seen the Fairtrade mark and almost nine in ten of them trust it.

[SeeSharp]

Big surprise. “Fair trade” is just a euphemism for central planning. Only economies driven by consumer choice succeed.

[stars & stripes forever]

The only ones benefiting Fair Trade are the ones who get finacial support to start the businesses.

Really, how many bubble gum wrapper coin purses and and bead necklaces can a person buy?

Some organizations are legit, but the vast majority raise the hopes of the poor by encouraging them to sell junk.

[TurboZamboni]

But all coffee shops sell it so it must be good!
/sarc

[rlmorel]

I always thought the whole thing was a Potemkin Village setup.

Like Global Warming Credits.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Market PC.
Goodbye Free Market...