CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2022
| Author | Klinkerfuss Nogueira, Guilherme |
|---|---|
| Title | Seeds of Inequality: the Impact of Fair Trade Practices on Coffee Farmers |
| Summary | Fair trade pricing policies have evolved and solidified into an important share of the global coffee market. By claiming to support sustainable development in the Global South, Fairtrade International has captured the attention of millions of consumers, especially in Europe and North America. Studies on the impact of such practices are relatively abundant and cover the multifaceted nature of fair trade associations, partnerships and practices, as well as the environmental, social and economic ramifications. By hypothesizing that fair trade pricing policies do not represent a structural, revolutionary shift in the global coffee market, this paper investigates the ways in which rural workers are impacted by fair trade. Fairtrade International's claims about fostering sustainable development are also analyzed through interviews with coffee farmers and worker cooperatives leaders in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study concludes that fair trade practices generally have uneven results vis-à-vis social development, the environment and labor regulations, although a majority of outcomes appear to be positive. Negative outcomes have not been reported, with some elements of the coffee business simply being unaffected by Fairtrade‘s actions. Fairtrade itself is mostly an aesthetic characterization of business practices, and gaps between its objectives and the realities of coffee farmers can be bridged by local governments. |
| Supervisor | Li, Andrew X. |
| Department | International Relations MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2022/klinkerfuss_guilherm.pdf |
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