Global inequalities and the Fair Trade Movement

Global trade has boosted the world economy and brought enormous increases in overall wealth. At the same time, however, the distribution of the world s wealth has become increasingly unequal, and the gap between rich and poor nations has widened. The fair trade movement seeks to improve the livelihoods of impoverished Third-World farmers and workers by making global trade more equitable. Fair trade programs aim to provide a fairer price for goods produced in the developing world and to promote better working conditions and higher environmental standards. This book explores the history and goals of the fair trade movement in the context of recent trends in global poverty and inequality. It compares fair trade to free trade, discusses relevant criticisms of both systems, and provides case studies of specific fair trade products to evaluate the impact of fair trade on developing nations and the global marketplace. Each title in this series contains color photos throughout, maps, and back matter including: a chronology, a detailed index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.