Comments on: Is Fair Trade a Fair Deal? http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/is-fair-trade-a-fair-deal/ Ideas on Liberty Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:14:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: The Economics of Caring and Sharing | http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/is-fair-trade-a-fair-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-44286 The Economics of Caring and Sharing | Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:08:47 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/is-fair-trade-a-fair-deal/#comment-44286 [...] Gene Callahan’s economic analysis suggesting these recipients may be harmed even if they do (“Is Fair Trade a Fair Deal?,” Freeman, March 2008), it is clear that “fair trade” advocates are sincere in their belief that this approach will [...] [...] Gene Callahan’s economic analysis suggesting these recipients may be harmed even if they do (“Is Fair Trade a Fair Deal?,” Freeman, March 2008), it is clear that “fair trade” advocates are sincere in their belief that this approach will [...]

]]> By: The Economics of Caring and Sharing | The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/is-fair-trade-a-fair-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-44129 The Economics of Caring and Sharing | The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:28:07 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/is-fair-trade-a-fair-deal/#comment-44129 [...] Gene Callahan’s economic analysis suggesting these recipients may be harmed even if they do (“Is Fair Trade a Fair Deal?,” Freeman, March 2008), it is clear that “fair trade” advocates are sincere in their belief that this approach will [...] [...] Gene Callahan’s economic analysis suggesting these recipients may be harmed even if they do (“Is Fair Trade a Fair Deal?,” Freeman, March 2008), it is clear that “fair trade” advocates are sincere in their belief that this approach will [...]

]]> By: James Smith http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/is-fair-trade-a-fair-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-35004 James Smith Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:08:19 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/is-fair-trade-a-fair-deal/#comment-35004 Hi: Thanks for the effort in writing this article about fair trade. I like and support the idea of fair trade from a stakeholder perspective. I would rather pay a bit more, though sometimes the price is nearly the same, for fair trade coffee. One bottom line to my economic analysis is that companies promoting fair trade coffee are profitable and competitive. Sometimes they are leaders in profit. Shoppers who shop at fair trade outlets can definitely afford it. Rather than take a systemic view of fair trade it may be helpful to look at simply the individual results as you would a family supporting each other. The system is so corrupt, jaded, and unfair, that the term free market is hardly relevant at all. So forget free market, as a reality to be compared with. It is at best an ideal utopia to be dreamed of a headed toward as possible. By the way, so much of FEE writings are like voices of the free market god, who does not exist, coming out of the clouds into a world that has no example or point of reference to understand. Good luck. And deep inside, the FEE-type meetings all espouse the free market, then the business attendees quickly do all they can to take advantage of the system of subsidies and favoritism as it is. There is nothing built of substance to replace the corrupt system, just jabs at it, then taking advantage of it. Correct me please if this is not the case. Now, back to free trade. The investors get great returns from Starbucks, the customers pay with no problem, their utility from the Joe is increased by knowledge that the coffee farmer (who is surrounded by drug lords making great "free market" prices)can live year to year, raise a family who may not become drug lords, and use any excess value from his "freely supported" coffee revenues to make a world he or she likes. To me it is worth it. It is a relationship on a personal and business level like a family would enjoy who actually cared about each other yet did not leave one to live or die in an impersonal world of callousness. None of us would leave our loved ones there but, without enabling them, would be sure they got all the support they wanted and we could give. When a business is run in this stakeholder model, it is more profitable and the world is a better place. Jim Smith Hi:
Thanks for the effort in writing this article about fair trade. I like and support the idea of fair trade from a stakeholder perspective. I would rather pay a bit more, though sometimes the price is nearly the same, for fair trade coffee. One bottom line to my economic analysis is that companies promoting fair trade coffee are profitable and competitive. Sometimes they are leaders in profit.
Shoppers who shop at fair trade outlets can definitely afford it.

Rather than take a systemic view of fair trade it may be helpful to look at simply the individual results as you would a family supporting each other. The system is so corrupt, jaded, and unfair, that the term free market is hardly relevant at all. So forget free market, as a reality to be compared with. It is at best an ideal utopia to be dreamed of a headed toward as possible. By the way, so much of FEE writings are like voices of the free market god, who does not exist, coming out of the clouds into a world that has no example or point of reference to understand. Good luck. And deep inside, the FEE-type meetings all espouse the free market, then the business attendees quickly do all they can to take advantage of the system of subsidies and favoritism as it is. There is nothing built of substance to replace the corrupt system, just jabs at it, then taking advantage of it. Correct me please if this is not the case.

Now, back to free trade. The investors get great returns from Starbucks, the customers pay with no problem, their utility from the Joe is increased by knowledge that the coffee farmer (who is surrounded by drug lords making great “free market” prices)can live year to year, raise a family who may not become drug lords, and use any excess value from his “freely supported” coffee revenues to make a world he or she likes.

To me it is worth it. It is a relationship on a personal and business level like a family would enjoy who actually cared about each other yet did not leave one to live or die in an impersonal world of callousness. None of us would leave our loved ones there but, without enabling them, would be sure they got all the support they wanted and we could give. When a business is run in this stakeholder model, it is more profitable and the world is a better place.

Jim Smith

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