We must not oversimplify the failings of fair trade
Julian Baggini's article on fair trade (Free doesn't mean unfair, March 5) is laced with oversimplifications and misrepresentations, where straw men have been haphazardly constructed so he can take a swipe at them. Free trade works fine in economic textbooks, but in the real world a wealth of evidence exists on its limitations and failures. UN research shows that those poor countries which have liberalised most have deindustrialised and suffered worsening poverty. Few, if any, in the fair-trade movement believe impoverished countries should throw open their markets, see their nascent industries collapse and then hope that rich consumers will pick up the pieces by choosing to pay more for all their exports.… Seguir leyendo »