Digital Commons Network^™

Fair Trade And Development Goals In The Coffee Sector, Brooke Amy Lautz

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Although fair trade is a step in the right direction, this thesis argues that some of its claims and approaches may be problematic with respect to development goals. As one of the world’s most highly traded commodities and an income source for tens of millions of people worldwide, coffee has become one of the star products championed by fair trade efforts aimed at sustainable development. The discourse surrounding both fair trade and development has been affected by various theories and criticisms, which is considered in the literature review, influencing the overall trajectory of the discussion. This paper looks at some …