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Responsible retailing: Regulating fair and ethical trade
Author(s) -
Robinson Pamela K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of international development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1099-1328
pISSN - 0954-1748
DOI - 10.1002/jid.1635
Subject(s) - fair trade , deregulation , position (finance) , supply chain , accountability , business , economics , international trade , goods and services , market economy , marketing , finance , law , political science
Deregulation in the 1980s and 1990s reaffirmed a market approach to the global trading of goods. Suggestions that this contributed to unfair terms of trade and poor labour conditions led to calls for greater corporate accountability. Following pressure to improve conditions, companies embraced a range of voluntary initiatives under the umbrella of fair and ethical sourcing. This article examines these commitments on the ground, in a global banana supply chain. Taking the case of bananas is significant because the major corporations at each end of the chain are in a potential position to orchestrate fair and ethical trade. Despite this potential for standards to be upheld, the case of bananas suggests that whilst supermarkets continue to drive down consumer prices, voluntary initiatives will fall short of their guarantees. This leads the paper to consider the policy implications of a more regulated approach to fair and equitable trade in the world's supply chains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.